We are thrilled to share that Mollie McQuillan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, has been named a William T. Grant Scholar for the Class of 2030. This prestigious national award recognizes a select group of early-career researchers whose work is poised to make a transformative impact on the lives of young people.
McQuillan is one of only a few scholars selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants. The award includes $425,000 over five years to supp
ort an ambitious research and mentoring agenda designed to advance equity and opportunity for youth. The Scholars Program, established in 1982, supports early-career researchers in the social, behavioral, and health sciences who are committed to expanding their expertise and deepening their impact through innovative, interdisciplinary work.
An expert in educational policy, school leadership, and the health of LGBTQ+ and gender-expansive students, Dr. McQuillan’s research bridges education, public health, and social equity. Her work is informed by 12 years of experience working directly with adolescents as a public school teacher, varsity coach, and mentor—providing a critical practitioner’s lens to their academic scholarship.
As a faculty affiliate with multiple UW–Madison centers, McQuillan exemplifies the power of research that is both rigorously scholarly and deeply rooted in community engagement.
We proudly congratulate McQuillan on this extraordinary honor and look forward to the lasting impact of their work on educational equity, school climate, and youth well-being across the country.