Holly Matusovich

Holly Matusovich is a Professor in the Department of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech and currently serves as the Associate Dean for Graduate & Professional Studies in the College of Engineering. She holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Education from Purdue University (2008), an M.S. in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Connecticut (1999), and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University (1994).

Her research focuses on student and faculty motivation in engineering education, graduate mentoring practices, and equitable access to engineering programs. Notable contributions include the NSF-funded Dissertation Institute supporting underrepresented doctoral students and the Skillful Learning Institute for faculty professional development. She has secured over $2.3M in grants, authored/co-authored 21 journal articles, and over 70 conference papers.

Dr. Matusovich has advised 11 doctoral students and been recognized with multiple awards, including the 2018 College of Engineering Graduate Mentoring Award and induction into the Academy of Faculty Leadership (2020). Her work emphasizes culturally relevant outreach programs and systemic equity initiatives in engineering education.

Key affiliations include the SMILE Research Group and leadership roles in secondary data analysis initiatives. Ongoing projects explore assessment practices in AI-era education and the impact of co-curricular activities on professional formation.