Rate My Professor Dorothy Kozlowski

Dorothy Kozlowski serves as Chair and Vincent de Paul Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at DePaul University’s College of Science and Health. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from Knox College, an M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, and completed postdoctoral fellowships in Neurosurgery at UCLA and Neurobiology at Northwestern University. At DePaul, she has held key administrative roles, including founding Chair of the Department of Health Sciences from 2011 to 2013, Director of the Neuroscience Program from 2016 to 2018, and Interim Dean of the College of Science and Health from 2018 to 2020. She also served as President of the Chicago Society for Neuroscience from 2014 to 2018. Dr. Kozlowski teaches courses such as Neuroscience Research Methods, Cognitive Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience, and Biostatistics in the Neuroscience and Biology Departments.

Dr. Kozlowski’s research program investigates traumatic brain injury (TBI) using rodent models to explore mechanisms of brain repair, including neuroplasticity, gene therapy, bone marrow stem cell transplants, endogenous neurogenesis, and physical rehabilitation. Her lab currently emphasizes models of repeat concussions to elucidate links to neurodegenerative diseases and the influence of genetic factors like APOE4. She also examines brain injury among survivors of intimate partner violence and co-founded the Illinois Coalition to Address Intimate Partner Violence-Induced Brain Injury. Funded by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Defense, her work has produced numerous peer-reviewed publications, including “Use-dependent exaggeration of neuronal injury after unilateral sensorimotor cortex lesions” (Journal of Neuroscience, 1996), “Repeat subconcussion in the adult rat gives rise to behavioral deficits similar to a single concussion but different depending upon sex” (Behavioral Brain Research, 2023), and “Traumatic brain injury in victims of domestic violence” (Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 2019). Her contributions have earned her the DePaul University Excellence in Teaching Award (2010), Educator of the Year from the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (2011), College of Science and Health Excellence in Research Award (2020), and Career Achievement Award from the Chicago Society for Neuroscience (2020).