DR. NATHALIA HOLTZMAN
Associate Provost for Innovation and Student Success
Queens College, USA
Biographies:
Dr. Nathalia Holtzman is the Associate Provost for Innovation and Student Success at Queens College, City University of New York, and an Associate Professor of Biology. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto and her PhD from the University of Oregon. A developmental biologist, she joined Queens College in 2005, where her research has focused on heart development and aquatic toxicology.
Before her current role, Dr. Holtzman served as Chair of the Biology Department and Associate Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. As Associate Provost, she oversees the Learning Commons, Writing Center, Office of Experiential Education, Center for Career Engagement and Internships, First-Year Experience, Office of Honors and Scholarships, and the Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (ACE) program. Her current priorities include building a Transfer Hub to improve institutional pathways, investing in experiential learning, and scaling data-informed practices that close equity gaps.
Under Dr. Holtzman’s leadership, Queens College has achieved measurable gains in student success and equity. The number of peer tutoring sessions has more than doubled—surpassing 10,000 annually—while the introduction of math recitations has led to a 10% increase in average course grades among participating students. Her office has secured over $1.5 million in scholarships through private philanthropy and competitive grants, expanding access to high-impact academic opportunities. In support of transfer students, Dr. Holtzman has spearheaded efforts to accelerate credit evaluation and course equivalency decisions, reducing time to degree and improving retention for this critical student population.
Looking ahead, Dr. Holtzman is focused on embedding career readiness into the academic experience—strengthening employer partnerships, expanding paid experiential learning, and ensuring all students graduate with a clear pathway to meaningful careers.
