Michelle Hodara

(she, her, hers)

Senior Leader, Applied Research & Equitable Evaluation

We know the value of postsecondary education and training for individual and societal well-being, yet there are worrisome trends in gaps in college enrollment and completion for historically underserved students. Motivated by these facts, Michelle aims to provide high-quality, accessible, and actionable research and evaluation that can contribute to a more equitable education system and society. She conducts research and evaluation that educators, policymakers, and partners can use to improve systems, practices, and policies and positively impact students and their families and communities.

After college, Michelle taught special education in Zuni, New Mexico, and developmental reading and writing at the University of New Mexico-Gallup, a two-year college. In these roles, Michelle worked with dedicated, excellent educators; learned from and taught amazing students; and observed systemic barriers. She was drawn back to economics, her first passion, to better understand these barriers and use applied research to investigate how to address them. At Education Northwest, Michelle has the opportunity to conduct applied research that contributes to a more equitable society.

Education

Ph.D., Economics and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
B.A., Economics and Political Science, Columbia University

I volunteer with...

Oregon Career Information System Board

If I could live anywhere in the world, it would be...

My hometown of Makawao, Maui

The strangest thing in my refrigerator is...

6 types of hot sauce

Areas of Expertise

College access and completion
Experimental and quasi-experimental methods
Mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) for program evaluation
Technical assistance with higher education institutions

Blog Posts

Transferring from a community college to a university can be challenging. Without adequate support, community college students may struggle to transfer and earn a bachelor’s degree.

ECMC Foundation’s Basic Needs Initiative is helping colleges and nonprofit partners connect students to food, housing, and more.

Going to college makes a significant difference in students' future earnings. Read about how CTE could help energize more Oregon students to pursue a postsecondary path.

For many Americans, high tuition costs are a primary barrier to attending college and earning a postsecondary credential.

Financial aid helps expand college access but not all eligible students apply. This post explores the barriers students face in applying for aid and provides FAFSA-completion strategies for educators.

Case Briefs & Publications

Oregon Promise is a financial aid program for community college students. We used data to study which students the program reaches and how they are impacted.

How can we support rural students’ decision making about life after high school? The Ford Family Foundation partnered with us to collect and analyze the data.

Student success in introductory community college math courses, also called gateway math, influences transfer and degree completion.

Colleges and universities are partnering with community-based organizations to support students holistically—including their basic needs. We looked at what makes these partnerships successful.

Wenatchee Valley College in Washington state partnered with Education Northwest on a new strategic plan focused on equity and diversity.

Education Northwest partnered with Stone Child College to help them better understand the educational and career outcomes its students, many of whom are members of the Chippewa Cree Tribe, experienced after they left the school.

Many college students struggle to afford the full cost of college attendance, which includes tuition and fees as well as food, housing, transportation, access to the internet, and other living expenses.

To address Oregon’s equity goals, Education Northwest developed a pair of data dashboards, one for accelerated learning and the other for CTE.

At Portland Community College (PCC), first-generation and low-income students can receive support to overcome those barriers through Future Connect, a scholarship and advising program.

Events

This presentation featured findings from the ECMC Foundation Basic Needs Initiative evaluation report. This report provides lessons for implementing comprehensive, student-centered basic needs services.

Learn about two new studies that address the research gap on Indigenous English learners.

Michelle Hodara

Senior Leader, Applied Research & Equitable Evaluation

Education

I volunteer with...

If I could live anywhere in the world, it would be...

The strangest thing in my refrigerator is...

Areas of Expertise

Report Spotlights Promising Practices for Supporting Oregon's Transfer Students

Collaborating to Solve Basic Needs Insecurity on College Campuses

Why Postsecondary Education Matters

Looking at the Latest Community College Innovations and Reforms

Expanding College Access: Promising Strategies to Boost Students’ Financial Aid Completion

Oregon Promise’s Reach and Impact: The First Two Years

Supporting Rural Students in Oregon in High School and Beyond

Examining the Role of Faculty and Instructional Practices in Students’ Gateway Math Success

Partnering to Support Students Holistically

Wenatchee Valley College Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan

Supporting Tribal College Student Success with Data

Helping College Students Thrive With Basic Needs Services and Resources

Putting Data in Educators’ Hands to Enhance Equity

Future Connect Evaluation

Sustaining Basic Needs Services at Postsecondary Institutions

Alaska Native Students as English Learners: Exploring New Research

Building a clear path toward equitable education for all, together

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