Now a mother of two, Ronotta is only more determined to demonstrate that it is never too late to achieve your dreams.

Though her path has not been easy, Ronotta Holliday has persisted in both her education and supporting other women. Early in her career, Ronotta directed a community center in a low-income neighborhood, where she spent a lot of time working with girls to enhance their self-esteem and academic performance. Ronotta could relate to the experiences of these young women and was determined to make a difference. She secured a grant from the city of Ann Arbor to continue this work and partnered with the Women’s Center of America to create an empowerment program for girls.

In 2009, Ronotta made the leap to return to school full-time, earning her Associate degree from Washtenaw Community College and then transferring to earn her B.A. in psychology with a minor in marketing at the University of Michigan – Dearborn. Though she faced financial hardships during these years, Ronotta never gave up. Ronotta went on to work as a Senior Clerk and Administrative Assistant for Michigan Dining, where she continued to learn and excel. Tapping into her marketing skills, Ronotta rebranded Java Blu coffee shop into a Starbucks Café and helped run events that resulted in several dining awards. She has also worked as a freelance marketing assistant for multiple companies, including BNA Management, and a Business Assistant for Michigan Radio.

Now a mother of two, Ronotta is only more determined to demonstrate that it is never too late to achieve your dreams. Ronotta earned acceptance to the School of Business at the University of Michigan – Dearborn, where she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in marketing. Ronotta’s ultimate goal is to help support other women through her own business and nonprofit. She plans to create a shapewear line to help women feel comfortable and confident in their bodies and use the profits to launch and support a nonprofit transitional accommodation center to help women achieve and maintain stability. 

CEW+ greatly admires Ronotta’s vision and pursuit of her dreams and names her a Mary Lucille Randolph and Lea King Dean Memorial Scholar.