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Dr. Michelle Yin is a Director and Professor at Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy, where her research focuses on advancing social and economic inclusion for people with disabilities and other marginalized populations. Her work sits at the intersection of education systems, labor markets, and social policy, examining how programs, institutions, and policies—from K–12 and higher education to vocational rehabilitation, social insurance, automation, artificial intelligence, and broadband—shape real opportunities and life trajectories for individuals with disabilities, at-risk youth, and adult learners.

As the Founding Principal Investigator of the Research and Innovation for Social and Economic Inclusion (RISEI) Lab, Dr. Yin leads a research portfolio exceeding $50 million in lifetime external funding. She and her team conduct rigorous, data-driven studies that evaluate large-scale education, workforce, and disability policies; design and assess innovative models of inclusive schooling and employment; and build practical tools and programs in partnership with government agencies, nonprofits, and international organizations.

Dr. Yin has served as a Senior Advisor to the U.S. Department of Labor and delivered policy briefings at the U.S. Capitol. She designed evaluation frameworks now used by more than 170 countries through Special Olympics International and has delivered keynote addresses across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Her research has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and The Hill, and her publications include work in the Journal of Labor Economics, Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, American Educational Research Journal, and AERA Open.

In addition to her research, Dr. Yin directs the Dual Master of Science in Applied Economics and Social and Economic Policy (jointly with The Chinese University of Hong Kong) and is an Executive Scholar in Nonprofit Management at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. She has been nominated to the National Academy of Social Insurance.

• Research Collaboration — Partnerships on technology and labor markets, disability employment policy, social insurance, or workforce inclusion
• Speaking Engagements — Keynotes, policy briefings, and presentations on automation, AI, disability employment equity, and social policy
• Graduate Study — Inquiries from prospective doctoral students interested in joining RISEI Lab or the dual master's program
• Policy Consultation — Advising government agencies and nonprofits on disability policy, workforce development, and education systems
• Media & Press — Expert commentary on labor economics, technology impacts, and social policy for marginalized populations
• Evaluation & Data Science — Program evaluation, data analytics, and process mining for accessibility and universal design