Ernest Otto Holland was born in Bennington, Indiana on February 4, 1874. He received an A.B. degree from Indiana University in 1895. From 1895 to 1900 he taught English at various Indiana high schools, and then became Head of the English Department at Louisville Male High School in Kentucky. In 1900 Holland became Associate Professor of Education at Indiana University. He progressed from Associate Professor in 1905 to Professor by 1908. In 1908 he took a leave of absence to further his education at the Teachers' College of Columbia University. In 1910, with funding from the Carnegie Foundation, Holland undertook a study of public education in Pennsylvania that ultimately became his doctoral dissertation. After receiving his Doctor of Philosophy degree, Holland became Superintendent of Louisville Schools.

In January 1916 Holland became the fourth President of the State College of Washington. In 1917, President Holland initiated a reorganization of the institution, creating five colleges and four schools, a key step toward eventual university status. Holland encouraged recruitment of national fraternities and sororities to the Pullman campus, with 22 new Greek chapters established during his presidency. , Holland became the longest-serving president of WSU, retiring in 1945.

The University’s then new central library, completed in 1950, was named Holland Library in his honor. The University’s Museum of Art houses the E. O. Holland Collection, primarily nineteenth and early twentieth century American and European paintings that Holland collected and donated to WSU. E. O. Holland died in May 1950.

For information on Holland's administration and his other interests see: William Landeen, E. O. Holland and The State College of Washington: 1916-1944.