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Overview


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.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Research Scientist Sanford School of Public Policy

In the News


Published May 1, 2024
How five states are stepping up to alleviate the child care crisis
Published March 27, 2024
InventHERs Institute Lets Local Underrepresented Girls See Themselves in STEM
Published June 26, 2023
Statewide project helps early childhood workforce be ‘seen, heard, and held’

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Recent Publications


Using Critical Race Mixed Methodology to Explore African American College Students’ Experiences with Racial Microaggressions

Journal Article Innovative Higher Education · December 1, 2024 There is a dearth of social justice or critical mixed methods research approaches, particularly in higher education. Critical Race Mixed Methodology (CRMM) is a type of critical mixed methods research that combines Critical Race Theory (CRT) and mixed meth ... Full text Cite

Focus groups as counterspaces for Black girls and Black women: A critical approach to research methods

Journal Article Contemporary Educational Psychology · September 1, 2024 When researchers intentionally account for the complexities of gendered racism, focus groups can become spaces for healing, community building, information exchange, psychological safety, and support for Black girls and Black women. This approach, when sit ... Full text Cite

African American Language in Children’s Literature

Journal Article Journal of Literacy Research · June 2024 The purpose of this study was to determine the most prevalent African American Language (AAL) phonological and grammatical features in slavery- and Civil Rights–themed children's literature. Seventy-six books were initially selected to determine i ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


NC Resilience and Learning Project

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Public School Forum of North Carolina · 2019 - 2025

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Education, Training & Certifications


North Carolina State University · 2020 Ph.D.