Tracey Holloway

Dr. Tracey Holloway is the Jeff Rudd and Jeanne Bissell Professor of Energy Analysis and Policy at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Jointly appointed in the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Department of Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences, Holloway leads a research group focused on air quality, energy, climate, and public health. Prior to joining the University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty, Holloway earned a Sc.B. with honors in applied mathematics from Brown University and a Ph.D. in atmospheric and oceanic sciences from Princeton University, along with a graduate certificate in science, technology, and environmental policy from Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. She also completed postdoctoral research at the Earth Institute at Columbia University.

For more than 20 years, Holloway has collaborated with students, scientists, and outreach staff to advance understanding of atmospheric science and air pollution. Using satellite data, computer models, and ground-based measurements, her group conducts research to inform science and policy, partnering with policy organizations and private companies to apply data to real-world information needs. Her work includes co-authoring a study in "Environmental Science & Technology" that linked increased air conditioning use with higher levels of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide. Holloway also chairs the Energy Analysis and Policy program, the largest in-person graduate certificate at the university.

A significant aspect of Holloway's career is her leadership of NASA's national air quality initiative. She has twice served as Team Lead of the NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Science Team, a national group funded by NASA to connect satellite data with health and air quality decision-making. In this role, Holloway coordinates researchers from leading universities and research centers to support data utilization by government agencies, non-profits, and companies across the United States. She has worked with the American Lung Association to use satellite-based estimates of near-surface fine particulate matter, aiming to inform air quality in counties lacking ground monitors.

Holloway's contributions to atmospheric science and public health have been recognized by several honors. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine for her work connecting air quality research with public health. She has received the Ascent Award from the American Geophysical Union Atmospheric Sciences Section and multiple awards for science outreach, diversity, and mentoring. At the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Holloway has been recognized for excellence in research, teaching, and mentoring, with honors including the Gaylord Nelson Distinguished Professorship, the Phi Beta Kappa Excellence in Teaching Award, and the Vilas Mid-Career Investigator Award. She was also the first recipient of the MIT C3E Award in Education and Mentoring, a Stanford University Leopold Leadership Fellow, an AAAS Leshner Leadership Fellow, and a TEDx speaker.

Beyond her academic work, Holloway is active in science communication and diversity in STEM. She is a co-founder and served as the first president of the Earth Science Women's Network, which supports scientists and promotes diversity in the field. Holloway is also a founding member of Science Moms, a nonpartisan science outreach effort focused on climate change. She serves as an advisory board member for the Outrider Foundation, is a member of the U.S. Committee on International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, and sits on the Board of Trustees for the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. Through these roles, Holloway contributes to the advancement of atmospheric science, environmental policy, and public health.