Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
School of Education

Mollie McQuillan

Assistant Professor

(608) 263-2737

270C Education Building

McQuillan, Mollie

   Professional Website  

Mollie McQuillan is an Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. Dr. McQuillan examines the intersection of educational policy, social relationships, and health of gender-expansive students and educators.

Education

  • PhD Human Development and Social Policy, Northwestern University, 2019
  • MA Human Development and Social Policy, Northwestern University, 2014
  • MAT Teaching, University of Saint Thomas, 2005
  • AB Political Science, University of Chicago, 2000

Select Publications

  • McQuillan, M. T., Anderson, J., & Gandy-Fastovich, L. (2025). “Sometimes It’s Hard to Do the Right Thing”: The Gender-Inclusivity Leadership Spectrum of How PK–12 Administrators Understand Gender Diversity Laws, Policies, and Implementation. American Educational Research Journal, 62(1), 14-52. American Educational Research Journal Online Publication/Abstract.
  • Cimpian, J., & McQuillan, M. T. (2025). An Overlooked Explanation for Increasing Suicidality: LGBQ Stressors Felt by More Students. Educational Researcher, 54(1), 56-60. American Educational Research Association.
  • McQuillan, M. T., Cimpian, J. R., Lebovitz, B. A., & Gill, E. K. (2024). Transgender Adolescent School Climate, Mental Health, and Adult Social Support. JAMA-Pediatrics, 178(10), 1082. JAMA Pediatrics Online Publication/Abstract.
  • McQuillan, M. T., Lebovitz, B. A., & Harbin, L. (2024). The Disruptive Power of Policy Erasure: How State Legislators and School Boards Fail to Take up Trans-affirming Policies While Leaning into Anti-LGBTQ+ Policies. , 38(3), 642-699. Educational Policy.
  • McQuillan, M. T., Iskander, L., Suárez, M. I., & Keenan, H. B. (2024). “Establishing Policy Is Just Step One of Twenty”: How Educational Policy Protections, District Practices, and Leadership Matter to Trans PK–12 School Workers. , 126(4-5), 147-186. Teachers College Record: The Voice of Scholarship in Education.

Select Awards and Honors

  • W.T. Grant Scholar, William T. Grant Foundation, (2025–2030)
  • Early Career Award, American Educational Research Association (AERA), 2025
  • Emerging Scholar Award - Administration, Organization, and Leadership, American Educational Research Association (AERA), 2023
  • Outstanding Educational Policy Report Award, American Educational Research Association (AERA), 2023
  • Trans Studies in Education: Building a Field of Research Pilot Learning Community, Spencer Foundation, (2019–2022)
  • Madison Education Partnership Research Award, UW Madison Education Partnership, (2019–2021)
  • Administration, Organization, and Leadership Outstanding Dissertation Award Honorable Mention, AERA Division A, 2020
  • Presidential Fellow, Northwestern University, (2017, 2019)
  • Dissertation Fellowship, National Academy of Education, (2017–2018)