By Laurel White
A School of Education faculty member has been chosen as one of just five scholars nationwide to be funded by the prestigious William T. Grant Scholars Program, an initiative that supports groundbreaking research and the scholars behind it.
Mollie McQuillan, an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, is the fifth scholar from the University of Wisconsin–Madison to be selected for the competitive program in its 43-year history, and the second education scholar.
McQuillan will use the program’s funding and other practical supports, including mentorship and networking opportunities, to continue research on how school district administrators use education reform research findings to improve outcomes for LGBTQ+ students.
McQuillan says support from the William T. Grant Scholars Program will allow them to further develop their practical research skills, particularly in survey development, as well as expertise in program evaluation.
“I’m very grateful for this honor, and for the opportunity to expand and improve my scholarship,” McQuillan says. “I look forward to continuing to build a better understanding of how policies and programs can change students’ lives in and outside the classroom.”
Broadly, McQuillan’s research examines the intersection of educational policy, social relationships, and health of LGBTQ+ students and educators. In 2023 and 2025, McQuillan received Emerging Scholar Awards from the American Educational Research Association, as well as the organization’s 2023 Outstanding Policy Report award for a paper that examined the efficacy of a Wisconsin school district’s programs for supporting LGBTQ+ students.
Other recent publications from McQuillan examined workplace culture for trans adults and found transgender students are more likely than their cisgender peers to seek support from school staff. McQuillan has also published on how training elementary school teachers in inclusive practices for LGBTQ+ students leads to lower disciplinary rates for all students.
The Scholars Program, which is aimed at supporting early-career researchers, will provide $425,000 in funding over five years.
McQuillan’s four peers in the William T. Grant Scholars Class of 2030 will study subjects including stress and trauma, racism, school segregation, truancy, and health.
Melissa Wooten, senior program officer at the William T. Grant Foundation, lauded the latest class of scholars for their diverse array of expertise and commitment to improving the lives of young people.
“Their work will greatly contribute to our understanding of ways to address inequality and improve youth outcomes,” Wooten said. “We are excited for them to join our community of Scholars and look forward to supporting their growth as researchers.”
Founded in 1936, the William T. Grant Foundation is a nonprofit focused on funding social science research that aims to improve the lives of young people in the United States.