Nikki Holland

Nikki Holland is a postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Education Policy and serves as Performance Assessment Director for the Massachusetts Consortium for Innovative Education Assessment (MCIEA) and the Education Commonwealth Project (ECP). In this capacity, Nikki coordinates the design and delivery of professional development and coaching support for teams of educators to build knowledge and skills related to high quality performance assessment. She also leads a public education campaign to build support for the transition to a new state accountability system that offers a more equitable and dynamic picture of student learning, growth, and school quality.

Nikki brings extensive experience in teaching, grant administration, and professional development for both pre- and in-service teachers. Nikki has taught and collaborated with educators across a range of settings, from middle and high schools to institutes of higher education on-campus, in correctional facilities, and fully online. Overall, Nikki’s work has focused on improving the teaching of writing, promoting student-centered learning, and expanding educational opportunities for diverse and underserved populations.

After earning her Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition from the University of Arkansas in 2016 and enjoying a brief interlude on an island off the coast of Maine, Nikki now lives in southern Vermont with her partner, their three daughters, and a crew of lovely pets.