Xiaodan Hu

Associate Professor

Department

Counseling and Higher Education (CAHE)

Research Interests

Xiaodan Hu, Ph.D. is an associate professor in higher education and student affairs and coordinator of the Community College Leadership Program. Professor Hu teaches courses related to higher education administration, finance and policy and community college leadership.

Her research typically employs quantitative methods to examine the impact of educational policy and initiatives on student success and the evolving priorities of colleges and universities, with a focus on educational equity in community colleges. Hu has recently published in prestigious journals, including AERA Open, American Educational Research Journal, Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, Educational Policy, Educational Researcher, Research in Higher Education, The Journal of Higher Education and Community College Review on topics such as dual enrollment, performance-based funding and community college baccalaureate programs. Hu currently serves as a member-at-large on the board of directors for the Council for Studies of Community Colleges. She has received research grants from the William T. Grant Foundation, American Educational Research Association and Illinois Community College Board for research on bridging research, policy and practices in postsecondary education.

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Florida (Higher Education Administration)
  • M.S., Texas A&M University (Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education)
  • B.A., Beijing Forestry University (English)

Funded Awards

  • A Head Start to College: Does Dual Enrollment Equalize Students’ Academic and Labor Market Success in STEM? 2022-2024. Role: Principal Investigator. Funding Source: AERA-NSF Research Grant. Total Budget: $35,000
  • Merit-based Aid and (In)equality: Examining Variation in Policy and Effects on Social Mobility. 2021-2023. Role: Principal Investigator. Funding Source: William T. Grant Foundation. Total Budget: $50,000
  • Cost-Effective for Low-Income Students? Dual Enrollment Credits and Financial Aid Packages in Higher Education. 2021-2022. Role: Principal Investigator. Funding Source: The National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP). Total Budget: $1,000
  • Early Leading Indicators of Community College Student Success. 2017-19. Role: Principal Investigator on subaward. Subaward funding source: The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). Total budget: $59,950

Select Refereed Publications

Contact Us

Department of Counseling and Higher Education
Gabel 200
815-753-1448
cahe@niu.edu
Counseling Admissions
Graham 416
815-753-5749
cahc_admissions@niu.edu
Higher Education and Student Affairs Admissions
Gabel 201 B
815-753-1306
dmiesbauer@niu.edu
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