Whitney McCoy

Whitney N. McCoy is a Research Scientist at the Center for Child and Family Policy whose work is deeply community-engaged, focusing on how educational environments shape student engagement, well-being, and academic success. Her research explores STEM education, educator development, and research-driven strategies to improve K-12 learning experiences.

Her research focuses on:

• Applying advanced qualitative and mixed-methods approaches to examine educational experiences, facilitate structured focus groups, and provide research consultation on study design, data collection, and analysis to enhance educational research and practice.
• Examining how educational environments influence student well-being, engagement, and achievement, particularly in engineering and technology education—also known more broadly as STEM education.
• Designing and evaluating curriculum and professional development programs to improve K-12 education, including initiatives that strengthen educator support, workforce wellness, and student learning environments.
• Collaborating with community partners to advance engineering and technological innovation through engagement, mentorship, hands-on experiences, and research-driven strategies.

She taught K-6 in Mecklenburg and Guilford County for six years, specializing in curriculum development and student learning strategies. Before joining CCFP, she was a Postdoctoral Research Associate in STEM Education at the University of Virginia, where she oversaw a randomized control trial on computer science professional development for elementary teachers and coached educators on engineering integration.

McCoy earned a B.S. in Biology from Winston-Salem State University and an M.A. in Teaching from UNC Charlotte. She completed her Ph.D. in Teacher Education and Learning Science (Educational Psychology) at NC State University, where she received the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, was an SREB Doctoral Scholar, and won the Outstanding Dissertation of the Year award.