About MDRC

Toyoda is a research assistant in MDRC’s Postsecondary Education Policy Area. She is currently working on The Higher Education Randomized Controlled Trial (THE-RCT) project and is passionate about centering equity and lived experiences in research.
Makoto is from Astoria, New York, and graduated from Binghamton University, State University of New York, with a bachelor of arts in sociology and political science in May 2022. During her time at Binghamton, Makoto was assistant editor of the arts and culture section of the campus newspaper and was active in intersectional feminist organizing. She also completed an undergraduate thesis studying the intersectional struggles of Asian-American women, which inspired her passion for qualitative research.
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MDRC Publications
ReportImplementation Findings
August, 2023MDRC led an implementation study of 59 student success programs across Texas that were funded by a COVID-relief grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This report presents findings; highlights research findings from previously conducted, rigorous evaluations of student support programs; and offers recommendations for future research and practice.
BriefResisting Erasure in Higher Education Policy and Practice
July, 2023A virtual roundtable brought together students, administrators, faculty members, and funders to examine and hear firsthand about the disparities, needs, and knowledge gaps affecting women of color in postsecondary education. This brief offers recommendations from the roundtable participants aimed at improving education and career outcomes for women students of color.
BriefLessons from the Field
April, 2023MDRC is partnering with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to provide information about evidence-based programs backed by past research to the Student Success Program Inventory, an inventory of existing student success programs in Texas. This brief summarizes some of the information they will use in that effort.
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Other Publications
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Projects
Montana’s Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education ( OCHE ) is expanding its evidence-based scholarship and student supports program called Montana 10. The Montana 10 model was designed to provide students with a combined set of targeted strategies that help them overcome barriers that may otherwise cause them to drop out of college. In particular, the...
Michael J. Weiss, John Diamond, Austin Slaughter, Tiffany Morton, Colin Hill, Makoto Toyoda, Stanley DaiFor The Higher Education Randomized Controlled Trial project ( THE - RCT ), MDRC has created the largest individual-participant database from higher education randomized controlled trials to date. THE - RCT makes standardized, deidentified data from more than 25 studies covering 50 institutions of higher education and 65,000 students securely available to qualified...