Liz Hollingworth, educational leadership professor in the University of Iowa College of Education, has been named to the Big Ten Equality Coalition Executive Committee for 2021-22.
Hollingworth, who also serves as the interim departmental executive officer (DEO) of Educational Policy and Leadership Studies, says she is honored to serve in this national role.
“I have been a member of the Big Ten Equality Coalition since its inception on June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd,” Hollingworth says. “It is an honor to be named to the Executive Committee. I’m looking forward to working with the leadership team to guide the Big Ten through some of the really exciting initiatives we have in the works for the next year, including Big Ten educational field trips to historic sites to connect the work of the coalition.”
Following the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd, Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren wrote an open letter on June 1, 2020, announcing the formation of the Big Ten Equality Coalition. The coalition features student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors, chancellors, presidents, and other members of all 14 Big Ten institutions. Its stated goal is seeking tangible ways to actively and constructively combat racism and hate around the world, while also empowering student-athletes to express their rights to free speech and peaceful protest.
Hollingworth joined the College of Education in 2005. Her research focuses on issues of leadership, evaluation, and assessment: in particular, how school reform policies affect classroom practice, evaluation, and school administration. Hollingworth has also served as the director of the Center for Evaluation and Assessment since 2015, working with a team of staff and graduate students to conduct multiple forms of program evaluation in collaboration with colleges, universities, and school systems.
Hollingworth attends the annual School Administrators of Iowa conference and is a member and past-president of the Iowa Council of Professors of Educational Administration. These professional groups support the professional development of in-service school leaders. Hollingworth is also the co-editor of both the first and second editions of "Organization and Administration of Iowa Public and Private Schools," a text used in the preparation of Iowa school leaders. In October 2017, Hollingworth was inducted into the Iowa Academy of Education, which is composed of outstanding Iowa scholars whose work has earned respect and recognition among peers for making a significant contribution to the broad field of educational studies.
Nationally, Hollingworth is the current secretary of Division A of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and has served as the chair and past-chair of the Learning and Teaching in Educational Leadership Special Interest Group of AERA, on the Executive Committee of UCEA, and was awarded the 2015 UCEA Distinguished Service Award for extraordinary commitment, excellence, leadership, productivity, generosity, and service.