Holly Downs

Experience

Holly Downs has almost 20 years of experience in research and evaluation with an emphasis in using digital tools to investigate leadership and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs delivered via traditional, hybrid and online learning environments with myriad audiences.

Before joining CCL, Holly served for 4 years as an Assistant Professor for the Department of Educational Research Methodology (ERM) and as the inaugural Associate Director of the Office of Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Services (OAERS) in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) where she received the 2014 Mentoring/ Advising/ Supervising Faculty Award. She still serves as an adjunct assistant professor at UNCG.

Holly has been an evaluator with UNCG and the University of Illinois working on a variety of projects from the US Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, Illinois State Board of Education, US Lacrosse-National Governing Board, Physicians for Peace, Title VI International Centers at UIUC, Oak Foundation, Action Greensboro, City Year, The Chicago Community Trust, and Carus Publishing. Additionally, she has received numerous awards for her work as an assistant professor, an elementary school teacher in California, and as the Educational Outreach and ZOOM Local/National Coordinator with WILL AM-FM-TV, a public-broadcasting station.

Current Role

Holly is a senior evaluation faculty member of CCL’s Evaluation Center which supports CCL and the field through the development of new knowledge, methods, and approaches to the evaluation of leadership development. In this capacity, she works with CCL staff, global clients, and external evaluators to design and conduct customized evaluations for CCL programs, products, and services. This work includes identifying organizational and leader needs, articulating program outcomes, selecting the most appropriate methods for evaluating initiatives for improvement and impact, and reporting the findings to key stakeholders.

Holly is also the principal investigator leading the research and evaluation of CCL’s digital and virtual learning effort in order to expand the knowledge regarding how virtual learning can enhance, support or supplant other types of training approaches to accelerate the development of leaders.

Areas of Expertise

• Virtual and Digital Learning, Creativity & Innovation, Evaluation Leadership Systems & Models Organizational Development

Education

• PhD University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2005 — 2011)
• MEd University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2000 — 2002)

Professional Affiliations

Holly is a member of the American Evaluation Association and the American Educational Research Association.

Honors, Awards, Grants

• Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation (CORE) Outstanding Outcome Research Paper Award (2016), Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation Journal, 2016.
• Mentoring/Advising/Supervising (MAS) Award, School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2014.
• Funded Grant for the Evaluation of the US Lacrosse National Coach Hybrid Training Program (Women’s Division), $28,260 from US Lacrosse, 2014.
• Funded Grant for the College Supporting Transition, Access and Retention (STAR) project, submitted with East Carolina University, $3,300,000 from the Oak and an additional $1,000,000 local support has been provided by the Weaver Foundation, Cemela Foundation, and the Michel Family Foundation, 2011 – 2014.
• Funded Grant for the Evaluation of the Implementation of the Illinois Learning Standards, submitted to the ISBE, 2005, Illinois State Board of Education, $780,000, 2005-2008.
• Midwest Representative for the National 2003 Station Advisory Council for PBS, WILL AM-FM-TV, 2003.