MDRC is committed to finding solutions to some of the most difficult problems facing the nation—from reducing poverty and bolstering economic mobility to improving public education and college graduation rates. We design promising new interventions, evaluate existing programs using the highest research standards, and provide technical assistance to build better programs and deliver effective interventions at scale. To advance our mission, we must recruit and retain staff that encompass a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives, ensure equity in our policies and practices, and build a culture of inclusion, in which all of our staff feel welcome and valued. Promoting these values at MDRC improves the quality and relevance of our research, as well as the daily experiences of our staff.

This section of our website offers information about MDRC’s organizational structure and the gender and racial/ethnic composition of its staff and Board of Directors and about our efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion at MDRC, in our research and technical assistance work, and in the broader fields of education and social policy research.

Leadership

Diversity, equity, and inclusion have been integral values at MDRC since our inception, both in our research and in the management of our organization. To continue to prioritize these values and associated activities, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Group—composed of members of MDRC’s senior management and led by Crystal Byndloss and John Martinez—provides oversight for our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. 

Crystal Byndloss, a Senior Research Associate, serves as MDRC’s Director for Outreach, Diversity, and Inclusion. As a member of MDRC’s Executive Team, Byndloss works collaboratively with MDRC’s Human Resources Department, the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advocacy Council, and senior management at MDRC to develop strategies and tactics for further promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion across the organization.

In addition to serving on MDRC’s Executive Team, John Martinez, Vice President and Director of Program Development, is the President-Elect of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM), where he is working closely with member institutions, particularly academic institutions, to develop strategies to address the pipeline issue in public policy programs and careers.

Next: MDRC Organizational Structure and the Demographic Composition of the Staff and Board