Dr. Holly Kosiewicz examines how policy and institutional practices shape student access and success in higher education. Her scholarship focuses on community colleges, with particular emphasis on college readiness, developmental education, dual enrollment, English learner success, student mental health, and workforce pathways. In her work, she partners with education agencies and institutions to produce actionable research that informs policy and improves student outcomes.

Dr. Kosiewicz is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Before joining UT Knoxville, she served as Director of the Education Research Center and as a researcher with the Texas Schools Project at The University of Texas at Dallas. She also previously served as Director of Policy Development at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, where she led and supported statewide research initiatives on dual credit education, transfer, financial aid, and student success.

Her research has appeared in leading journals, including American Educational Research Journal, AERA Open, The Journal of Higher Education, The Review of Higher Education, and Community College Review. She has also authored reports and policy briefs for organizations including the RAND Corporation and the American Institutes for Research. Her work has been supported by the U.S. Department of Education, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Greater Texas Foundation, the Trellis Foundation, and the National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation.

Dr. Kosiewicz employs mixed-methods research designs that integrate administrative data, policy analysis, and qualitative inquiry to examine complex educational challenges. Her work intentionally bridges scholarship and practice to help policymakers and institutional leaders make evidence-informed decisions that expand educational opportunity and success.