Jennifer Freeman, Ph.D.
Email: jen.freeman@ttu.edu
Phone: 806-834-3835
Office: 330
Dr. Jennifer Freeman is an Assistant Professor of Education Policy in the Department of Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Counseling at Texas Tech University. Her research examines pathways from high school to postsecondary education and the workforce, with a focus on college and career readiness, including career and technical education, credential attainment, and community college pathways. Her work pays particular attention to how policy incentives, accountability systems, and institutional practices influence student outcomes. She also studies special education policy across K–12 and postsecondary systems, examining how policies and institutional contexts shape the experiences and outcomes of students with disabilities.
Dr. Freeman earned her Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of Pennsylvania and an A.M. in Statistics and Data Science from the Wharton School, where she received training in applying quantitative methods to address policy-relevant questions in education.
Education
- Ph.D. Education Policy, University of Pennsylvania, 2024
- A.M. Statistics and Data Science, University of Pennsylvania, 2023
- M.A. Education, University of California - Santa Barbara, 2020
- B.S. Zoology, University of California - Santa Barbara, 2018
- A.A., Liberal Arts: Emphasis on Math and Science - Santa Barbara City College, 2016
Areas of Expertise
- Secondary to Postsecondary Transitions
- Special Education Policy
- Quantitative Research Methods
Selected Publications
Freeman, J. A., Kirksey, J. J., Edwards, W., Holzman, B., & Lee, H.B. (2026). Beyond the Threshold: What Dual Credit Benchmarks Signal About College Readiness in Texas. Texas Tech University. Center for Innovative Research in Change, Leadership, and Education. https://hdl.handle.net/2346/104880
Freeman, J. A. (2025). Accommodating Success: Examining the Effects of Accessing Accommodations on Degree Completion Among Community College Students with Non-Apparent Disabilities. Exceptional Children, 91(4), 336-358.
Freeman, J. A. (2024). Long-term English learners with learning disabilities: Is dual identification associated with high school absenteeism? The High School Journal, 106(3), 191-207.
Freeman, J. A., Gottfried, M. A., & Odle, T. K. (2024). Explaining course enrollment gaps in high school: Examination of gender-imbalance in the applied sciences. Educational Policy, 38(4), 897-936.
Freeman, J. A., & Kirksey, J. J. (2023). Linking IEP status to parental involvement for high school students of first-generation and native-born families. Exceptional Children, 89(2), 197-215.
Freeman, J. A., Gottfried, M. A., Plasman, J. (2023). STEM-focused career courses and college pipeline for students with learning disabilities. Educational Policy, 35(4), 1-31.
Selected External Funding
Freeman, J. A. (Principal Investigator), Gottlieb, J. J. (Co-Principal Investigator). “Exploring Dual Credit Programs and Key Indicators of Postsecondary Success in Texas.” Sponsored by the Moody Foundation, $109,567. (2025-2026).
Kirksey, J. J. (Principal Investigator) & Freeman, J. A. (Co-Principal Investigator). “Assessing the Impact of Outcomes-Based Funding on Rural Community Colleges: Insights from Texas House Bill 8.” Sponsored by Greater the Texas Foundation, $300,000. (2025-2028).
Kirksey, J. J. (Principal Investigator), Freeman, J. A. (Co-Principal Investigator), & Crevar, A. R. (Co-Principal Investigator). “Long-term Social and Economic Benefits of CTE Courses and Credentials: A Closer Look at Texas.” Sponsored by the Walton Family Foundation, $298,583. (2024-2026).
College of Education
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Address
Texas Tech University, College of Education, 3002 18th Street Lubbock, TX 79409 -
Phone
(806) 742-2377 -
Email
educ.webmaster@ttu.edu