Jennifer A. Freeman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership Policy | Texas Tech University
Dr. Freeman is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership Policy at Texas Tech University. She received her Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of Pennsylvania and was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. Employing applied quantitative methods, Jennifer uses datasets from school districts, government agencies, and large-scale surveys to interrogate how individual and institutional contexts influence the educational and career trajectories of historically marginalized communities.
Jennifer's research focuses on two broad areas of education:
First, she delves into the nexus between high schools, higher education, and the workforce, and the nontraditional pathways students take as they navigate those sectors. This work focuses on students in high school career and technical education (CTE), community college attendees, and those transferring to four-year institutions, and explores whether access to STEM-CTE, institutional support programs, and high-impact practices can support their success. As part of her NSF GRF work, Jennifer is evaluating the impact of course-based undergraduate research experiences on the educational and labor market outcomes of transfer students in STEM disciplines.
Second, Jennifer’s work interrogates how inclusive educational policies and practices can promote more equitable outcomes for students with disabilities across the educational pipeline. This work critically evaluates how the design and delivery of special education, access to inclusive STEM programming, and the provision of accommodations in higher education can dismantle systemic barriers that limit the educational and career trajectories of students with disabilities.
