SESP Faculty

Dr. Michelle Yin

Faculty Profile

Michelle Yin is the director of Northwestern University’s Dual Masters Degree Program offered jointly with the Chinese University of Hong Kong and associate professor in the School of Education and Social Policy. She is also the founder of the Research and Innovation for Social and Economic Inclusion Lab. Dr. Yin works at the nexus of education and labor economics, with a focus on special populations that include people with disabilities, youth at risk of not graduating from high school, and adult literacy learners. Her exemplary work has been applied in these content areas to provide empirical evidence that informs policy, practice, and advocacy to improve people’s lives. She currently serves as the principal investigator on an intervention evaluation to help youth and adults with disabilities to move from subminimum wage jobs into competitive integrated employment funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Serices Administration. She also leads multiple efforts to evaluate the impact of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools on students with intellectual disabilities’ behavior and schooling outcomes, both domestically and internationally. Dr. Yin also serves as a member of the SOI Global Center Research Collaborative and recently developed a global evaluation framework for Special Olympics that will be employed by more than 170 countries to encompass educational and social activities in different countries, languages, and cultures. She is also a co-investigator to study the universal design and accommodations features using NAEP process data, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education. Her work has been published and featured in leading journals and newspapers, such as the Journal of Labor Economics, Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, The Wall Street Journal, and The Hill.

Social inclusion of children with disabilities, disability employment, diversity and equity of people with disabilities; teacher effectiveness in adult education, return on investment of higher education; high school and college course taking patterns and STEM enrollment and career pathway

Founded in 2021 by Dr. Yin, the Research and Innovation for Social and Economic Inclusion (RISEI) Lab is a dedicated hub of excellence committed to advancing the social well-being of individuals confronting significant social and economic challenges. Our lab places a special emphasis on underserved populations, including individuals with disabilities, at-risk youth, and adult learners seeking to improve their literacy skills. Through rigorous research, data-driven analysis, and collaborative partnerships, we strive to create positive change in the lives of those often marginalized by society.

• Principal Investigator, Real Pay for Real Jobs (RPRJ) Education and Outreach, Partnership Development, provisions of
  Individualized Services and Capacity Building (EPIC) project, Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services, funded by U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (2022-2027, $4,200,000) 
• co-Principal Investigator, Rethinking Accessibility Using NAEP Process Data: Exploring Universal Design and Accommodations, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences (2020-2023, $699,533)
• Principal Investigator, Making Transition Work: An Evaluation of A Promising Work-Based Learning Model in Maine, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Vocational Rehabilitation Services (2016-2021, $3,307,323)
• Principal Investigator, Global Evaluation of Unified Schools Programs Phase II, Special Olympics, Inc. (2020-2024, $391,393)
• Principal Investigator, Global Evaluation of Unified Schools Programs, Special Olympics, Inc. (2018-2021, $282,431)
• Principal Investigator, Evaluation of Unified Champion Schools (UCS) Program on Student Academic Outcomes, Special Olympics, Inc. (2019-2021, $244,681)
• Principal Investigator, Evaluation of Unified Champion Schools (UCS) Program on Student Schooling Outcomes, Special Olympics, Inc. (2018-2020, $121,805)
• Principal Investigator, State Exchange on Employment and Disability Evaluation, U.S. Department of Labor (2015-2019, $244,470)
• Co-PI/Impact Evaluation Director, Subgrant through Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services for the Career Pathways Demonstration Grant, Rehabilitation Services Administration, US Department of Education. (2015-2020, $540,000)
• Co-PI/Impact Evaluation Director, Subgrant through Kentucky Office for the Blind (KY OFB) for the Career Pathways Demonstration Grant funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration, US Department of Education. (2015-2020, $649,679)

Briefings

• Yin, M. & Shaewitz, D. (2016, September) Keynote Speaker, Research to Inform Policy, Massachusetts Disability Summit, Boston, Massachusetts
• Yin, M. (2015, January) Hill Briefing, Closing the Pay Gap for Workers with Disabilities, Cannon House Office Building, Washington D.C. https://www.air.org/event/closing-pay-gap-workers-disabilities
• Shaewitz D. & Yin, M. (2015, June) Hill Briefing, Research to Inform Policy, Interagency Committee on Disability Research, Washington D.C.

Presentations

• Yin, L. M. (2020, April) The Impact of Jobs for Maine’s Graduates on Students’ Academic Outcomes. Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of American Educational Research Association. San Francisco, CA.
• Yin, L. M. (2019, July) Impact of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools Program on High School Completion. APPAM International Conference, Barcelona, Spain
• Yin, L. M. (2019, March) Improving Schooling Outcomes for Students With Disabilities: Evidence From “Jobs for Maine’s Graduates” Association for Education Finance and Policy 44th Annual Conference, Kansas City, Missouri
• Ogut, B. & Yin, L. (2014, April). What do NAEP mathematics achievement levels mean? Evidence from Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey. Paper presented at the annual meeting of American Educational Research Association. San Francisco, CA.
• Yin, L. M., & Schneider, M. (2012, April). Cohort default and repayment rate metrics, taking into account student and institutional characteristics. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Vancouver, Canada.
• Yin, L. M., & Schneider, M. (2012, March). Cohort default and repayment rate metrics, taking into account student and institutional characteristics. Association of Education and Finance Policy Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.
• Yin, L. M., & Kitmitto, S. (2012, March). A closer look at military-connected students: Achievement, discipline, attendance, and mobility. Association of Education and Finance Policy Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.
• Yin, L. M. (2011, April). Abstinence education reform and adolescent risky behaviors. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
• Yin, L. M. (2010, March). Are school accountability systems contributing to adolescent obesity? Urban Institute, Washington, DC, Abt Associates, Washington, DC; University of Missouri; Northwestern University; University of Florida.

Journal Articles

• Yin, M., Siwach, G. and Lin, D. (2022), Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Labor Market Outcomes for Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities in Maine. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Vol. 00, No. 0, 1–32 https://doi.org/10.1002/pam.22446
• Yin, M., Siwach G., and Belyakova Y. Impact of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools Program on High School Completion (2020) American Educational Research Journal. Vol. 59, No. 2, pp. 315–344 https://doi.org/10.3102/00028312211032744
• Yin, M., Pathak, A., Lin D., and Dizdari N. Identifying Racial Differences in Vocational Rehabilitation Services (2020) Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/00343552211048218
• Yin, M., Cronen, S., Condelli, L., and Ogut, B.Teacher Effectiveness in Adult Education: The Relationship Between Teacher Characteristics and Student Test Gains and Transitions Into Postsecondary Education (2020) Adult Education Quarterly. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/07417136211044515
• Yin, L. M., Pathak, A., Lin D., and Siwach G. Time Spent in Vocational Rehabilitation Process and Labor Market Outcomes (under review)
• Yin, L. M., Siwach G., Lin D., and Pathak, A. Social Inclusion and Student Academic Outcomes: Evidence from Special Olympics Unified School Programs (under review)
• Figlio, D., Rush, M., & Yin, L. (2012). Is it live or is it Internet? Experimental estimates of the effects of online instruction on student learning. Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 31(4), pages 763-784.
• Yin, L. M. The Bottom Line: Inclusion Matters in the Workplace and the Marketplace (2019) Diversity Business Review, pages 43-48.

Book Chapters

• Yin, L. M. (2014). Rethinking Student Outcomes: Constructing Predicted and Adjusted Graduation and Retention Rates for Comprehensive Universities. Book chapter, The University Next Door: What is a Comprehensive University, Who Does It Educate, and Can It Survive? New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
• Yin, L. M., & Ogut, B. (2012). China Financial Market Development Report 2009. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing.

High-profile Research and Policy Briefs

• Yin, M., Siwach, G., Lin, D., and Fatima, S., Return on Investment of Vocational Rehabilitation Services for Transition Age Youth With Disabilities in MaineWashington, DC: American Institutes for Research. (2021)
• Yin, M., Shaewitz, D., and Megra, M. The Purchasing Power of Working-Age Adults With Disabilities in Boston and Other Top Metropolitan Areas. Washington, DC: American Institutes for Research. (2020)
• Yin, M., Shaewitz, D., and Megra, M. Leading the Way, or Falling Behind? What the Data Tell Us About Disability Pay Equity and Opportunity in Boston and Other Top Metropolitan Areas. Washington, DC: American Institutes for Research. (2020)
• Yin, M. Commentary: Improving Lives for People with Disabilities in the Workplace and the Marketplace (2019) https://www.air.org/resource/improving-lives-people-disabilities-workplace-and-marketplace
• Yin, L. M., and Shaewitz, D. A Hidden Market: The Purchasing Power of Working-Age Adults With Disabilities (2018). Washington, DC: American Institutes for Research.
• Yin, L. M., and Shaewitz, D. One Size Does Not Fit All: Reexamining the Labor Force Participation of People With Disabilities (2016). Washington, DC: American Institutes for Research. Featured by The Wall Street Journal https://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2015/09/08/job-market-for-disabled-workers-helps-explain-labor-force-participation-puzzle/
• Yin, L. M. What the pay gap for disabled workers costs them and the nation (2016) The Hill 1(14)https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/labor/229389-what-the-pay-gap-for-disabled-workers-costs-them-and-the-nation
• Yin, L. M., Shaewitz, D, & Megra, M. An Uneven Playing Field: The Lack of Equal Pay for People With Disabilities(2014). Washington, DC: American Institutes for Research.
• Yin, L., & Schneider, M. (2012). Completion matters: The high cost of low community colleges graduation rates.American Enterprise Institutes for Public Policy Outlook, Washington, DC: American Enterprise Institute.
• Yin, L. M., & Schneider, M. (2012). Community colleges’ learning disability. Opinion, Los Angeles Times
• Yin, L., & Schneider, M. (2011). The hidden costs of community colleges? Washington, DC: American Institutes for Research.
• Yin, L., & Schneider, M. (2011). The high cost of low graduation rates: How much does dropping out of college really cost? Washington, DC: American Institutes for Research.
• Miller, A., Clery, S., Richardson, S., Topper, A., Cronen, S., Lilly, S., Hinkens, E., & Yin, M. (2016). Promising Practices for Increasing Diversity Among First Responders. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor.
• Yin, M., Cronen, S., Condelli, L., and Ogut, B. (2015). Teacher Effectiveness in Adult Education: The Relationship Between Teacher Characteristics and Students’ Transitions Into Postsecondary Education. Report prepared for the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education. Washington, DC: American Institutes for Research.
• Yin, L., & Schneider, M. (2013). How Are Institutions in the Gates Metrics Project Doing? Cohort Default and Repayment Rate Metrics, Taking Into Account Student and Institutional Characteristics. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
• Yin, L., & Schneider, M. (2012). Constructing Predicted and Adjusted Graduation and Retention Rates Metrics Taking into Account Student and Institutional Characteristics. Washington, DC: American Institutes for Research.