Trinity Professor Named One of Poets&Quants Best Undergraduate Professors for 2025

Poets&Quants has named Amy Foshee Holmes, Ph.D., as one of the 50 Best Undergraduate Business Professors for 2025. This year, Poets&Quants received more than 1,000 nominations for professors across 45 different institutions, including six international schools. Nominees were evaluated individually based on their research, teaching excellence, and impact on industry and their schools.

Associate Professor of Accounting at Trinity University, Holmes consistently is recognized by students, peers, and organizations alike for her distinguished, innovative teaching and thoughtful, attentive approach to mentorship and service. Her teaching emphasizes curiosity, critical thinking, collaboration, and experiential learning to encourage the development of critical thinking skills. Last year, Holmes received the Outstanding Accounting Educator Award from the Texas Society of CPAs (TXCPA). Her scholarship bridges academic theory and professional practice. Holmes received a 2020 Emerald Publishing Literary Award (Highly Commended Paper) for her co-authored article Financial Information Transfer in Municipal Government: An Exploratory Examination of Government Finance Officers’ Communication. Holmes currently serves on the TXCPA Leadership Council at the state level and sits on the Board of Directors for the TXCPA San Antonio Chapter. In 2023, Holmes received the TXCPA San Antonio Distinguished Service Award and in 2022 received the IMA Don Russell Chapter Volunteer of the Year award from the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) San Antonio Chapter. Being named one of Poets&Quants’ 50 Best Undergraduate Professors this year is a well-earned distinction for Holmes.

One of Holmes’ students, Maddy Early ’26, an accounting major, reflects on her experience with Holmes as a professor: “Dr. Holmes is someone who cares deeply about what she is doing and the students she teaches, and it is overwhelmingly evident when you take a class with her,” says Early. “She is always so excited to engage with us and ensure we feel supported in her class while having fun. She is the reason I am looking into a career relating to sustainable business, and I have absolutely loved every class I've taken with her during my time at Trinity!”

As a lifelong learner with over 28 years of professional accounting experience, Holmes integrates that experience in the classroom to create meaningful connections between theory and practice. Holmes incorporates experiential learning to enhance student engagement and facilitate a deeper understanding of complex concepts. In her “Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting” course (ACCT 4346), students engage with Haven for Hope and Thrive Youth Center to learn concepts related to accounting for nonprofit organizations. Her sustainability course (BUSN 3314) includes a collaborative online international learning (COIL) partnership with Tecnológico de Monterrey, where students work across borders on team projects.

As a first-generation college graduate, Holmes is dedicated to serving the community and has developed an annual initiative to promote financial literacy. The Michael Neidorff School of Business Financial Literacy Day connects Trinity students with local high school first-generation students to encourage college readiness while enhancing the development of leadership and civic engagement. Luke Whitfill ’26, a finance major, participated in a recent Financial Literacy Day. “It was great working with Dr. Holmes on Financial Literacy Day,” says Whitfill. “Dr. Holmes is such an awesome professor. She's always put her students first and has been great whenever I've needed help.”

Holmes was instrumental in creating Trinity’s Minor in Sustainable Business and ESG Strategy and currently serves as its director. The minor intentionally integrates courses from all four schools at Trinity for an interdisciplinary approach to studying the importance of business not only from an economic perspective, but also value creation through a focus on minimizing environmental impacts and enhancing social justice. Through a combination of scholarly leadership, professional service, community outreach, and curricular innovation, Holmes has made a significant impact on the business profession and accounting education. Her work strengthens the pipeline of future accountants and highlights the essential role of accounting in advancing sustainability, ethical decision-making, and public trust.

Emmy Batnasan ’27, an accounting major, emphasizes Holmes’ mentorship both in and out of the classroom and the value of the experiential learning opportunities that Holmes creates. “Dr. Holmes is an inspiring professor and role model whose dedication to sustainability, community engagement, and student success truly stands out,” says Batnasan. “Professor Holmes' managerial accounting course deepened my understanding of internal accounting systems, strengthened my public speaking, and sparked my interest in accounting regulations through a trip to TXCPA Advocacy Day. I always enjoy seeing her around campus, as she makes every interaction feel meaningful.”

“Dr. Holmes is genuinely one of the kindest and sweetest souls in the world! She works super hard in her many roles, whether that is meeting us in office hours or her focus on sustainability research,” says Kristen Lowry ’26, accounting major. “She is also an adviser to many students, and even though I was not her advisee, she gave me amazing advice on what it is like to be a leader in accounting. She truly gives her heart into everything and also listened to the many tears I cried about life and accounting!”

It seems as though nearly every student who interacts with Holmes as a professor, adviser, and person walks away feeling inspired, energized, and more secure in their own abilities and future. The abundance of students with positive experiences with and appreciation for Holmes is truly a testament to her exceptional qualities as a professor and human being.

Congratulations to Holmes on being one of Poet&Quants’ 50 Best Undergraduate Business Professors for 2025! The honor is well-deserved.

“This recognition makes me feel very grateful for the opportunities that Trinity has provided, which allow me to grow personally and create opportunities for our students to find meaning and purpose in their lives,” reflects Holmes. “It is humbling.”