In Memoriam: Kathleen Hollowell

In 1988, Dr. Hollowell was hired at UD as a prepatory math specialist, with a dual appointment as an assistant professor in the math department and the School of Education. The in-service aspects of her responsibilities grew, and she was ultimately named acting director of mathematics in-service programs. In 1997, she became the founding director of the University’s Mathematics and Science Education Resource Center, which helped Delaware’s K-12 mathematics and science teachers implement new content and performance standards in their classrooms, a post she held until her retirement in 2008.

In 2004, she and her husband, David E. Hollowell, now executive vice president and treasurer emeritus at UD, established the University’s 100th endowed professorship–a position in the Department of Mathematical Sciences focusing on secondary school math education. The University’s Board of Trustees passed a resolution saluting the Hollowells for their generous gift.

In 2018, the Hollowells were honored as inaugural members of the University’s Founders Society, which recognizes UD’s top donors whose generous philanthropy touches the lives of students and faculty every day.

Colleagues remember

Some of Dr. Hollowell’s colleagues and friends shared their reflections:

Dan Rich, professor emeritus of public policy and administration and UD provost from 2002-2009: “Kathy Hollowell was a dedicated and award-winning math educator with an unshakeable belief in the power of education to improve lives. As director of the Mathematics and Science Education Resource Center, she played a central role in a UD/State partnership to improve Delaware public schools. Under her leadership, the center gained national recognition and support. Kathy shared her expertise, experience and passion for teaching secondary school mathematics with educators throughout the state. She developed professional development programs and a collaborative network of math educators who learned from each other. I observed firsthand the respect she earned from teachers and education leaders throughout the state.”

Jinfa Cai, Kathleen and David Hollowell Professor of Mathematics Education: “There is no language I can use to describe the loss of Kathy, after hearing the sad news. I started to know Kathy when I came to Delaware for an interview in January 1996,] and started to directly work with Kathy in September 1996, serving on the advisory board for her center. I have travelled with Kathy many times in her favorite Jaguar to give workshops to teachers in Delaware.  Because of her significant contribution to the Delaware State of Mathematics Education, Kathy received the Webber Award. The last communication I have had with Kathy was Sept. 3, 2024, when I was elected to serve as vice president of the International Commission on Mathematics Instruction (ICMI).  She sent me a big congratulation!  I am very honored to hold the Kathleen and David Hollowell Professorship.  We at the Department of Mathematical Sciences have started a Hollowell Math Education seminar series, and we will continue this series.  In addition, currently, I am completing a book on research related to Mathematical Problem Posing to be published by Springer in late 2025.  I will dedicate the book to Kathy.”

John  Pelesko, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at the New Jersey Institute of technology and former dean of UD’s College of Arts and Sciences: “Kathy was a pioneer in improving mathematics and science education in the state of Delaware. Her leadership of the Mathematics and Science Education Resource Center, known as “MSERC”, was impactful and important for advancing math and science education. Her support of these efforts continued long after her retirement and her legacy will endure.”

Michelle Cirillo, professor of mathematical sciences: “Kathy’s important work and legacy endured long after her time at University of Delaware. She was enthusiastic and current on the trends in mathematics education long after she retired.”

Dawn Berk, director of the Mathematical Sciences Learning Laboratory and associate professor of mathematical sciences: “Kathy was a great mentor to me when I first arrived at UD as a new faculty member. In her role as the director of the Mathematics and Science Education Resource Center (MSERC), she welcomed me into their activities and provided me with several opportunities to work with local math teachers. Kathy’s contributions to mathematics education at the University of Delaware and in the state of Delaware were numerous and impactful, and she will be greatly missed.”

Jon Manon, retired faculty member in the School of Education: “I worked with Kathy for nearly two decades including those 10 years during which she was the director of the Mathematics and Science Education Resource Center (MSERC). I can report that she dedicated herself in that role to improving mathematics instruction for all of Delaware’s students, developing and leading professional development projects including the far-reaching Delaware Exemplary Mathematics Curriculum Implementation Project (DEMCI), a multi-year initiative funded through an NSF Local Systemic Change Project and involving many of Delaware’s public school districts. The project had the ambition of introducing exemplary mathematics curricula into middle and high school classrooms statewide. Kathy is also remembered as the principal author of several editions of texts in the Chicago Mathematics Project.”

About Kathleen Hollowell

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Kathleen Hollowell earned her undergraduate degree in mathematics from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, and her master’s in mathematics and doctorate in mathematics education from Boston University.

She taught briefly in the Boston Public schools, followed by 17 years at Newton North High School before coming to Delaware.

Dr. Hollowell served on an author team for the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project and, for Holt Reinhart & Winston, served as an author in their high school Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry textbook series.  She received awards for her contributions to the profession from both Albertus Magnus College and Boston University and was twice recognized by the National Science Foundation Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching in Massachusetts.

After retirement, Dr. Hollowell pursued her interests in travel and music, visiting all 50 states and 70 foreign countries. Interested in music from an early age, her true love was singing:  She was a member of Sweet Adelines International choruses in both Delaware and South Carolina and most recently was a member of the choir at Immaculate Conception Church in Newburyport and St. Peter the Apostle church in Naples, Florida.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, David; David’s brother Rick and his wife Karen; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass will be held at the Immaculate Conception Church, 42 Green St., Newburyport, Massachusetts, at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Oct. 28. Visiting hours at the Twomey, LeBlanc & Conte Funeral Home, 193 High St., Newburyport, are from 3-7 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 27. Burial will take place following the Mass in the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Reading, Massachusetts.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift in Dr. Hollowell’s memory to the Kathleen A. and David E. Hollowell Graduate Tuition Scholarship, an endowed fund at the University of Delaware. Please forward donations to Gifts Processing, 83 East Main St., 3rd Floor, Newark, DE 19716.  Make checks payable to “University of Delaware” and include on the memo line “in memory of Kathleen Hollowell.” Gifts can also be made on the University of Delaware’s secure website, www.udel.edu/makeagift, and choose  “I’d like to search for a different option” and then search for “Hollowell.”

To read her complete obituary or leave online condolences, visit Twomey, LeBlanc & Conte Funeral Home.