Michelle C. Tolbert

Michelle Tolbert oversees education projects focused on improving policies, programs, and resources targeting low-skill adults and youth. She conducts qualitative research and analysis and provides technical assistance to states and programs in the areas of correctional education and reentry, adult education, transitions to postsecondary education, workforce development, and state and federal policy.

Ms. Tolbert's experience in correctional education and reentry includes evaluating postsecondary education reentry programs, developing the Reentry Education Framework and online Tool Kit, and overseeing a technical assistance project providing justice-involved young adults with education and workforce development alternatives to incarceration.

Ms. Tolbert also has authored guides, policy briefs, and research reports on transitions to college and careers, industry-recognized credentials, and educational technology and has provided technical assistance to states on developing bridge and career pathway programs, integrating adult education content standards into the classroom and implementing performance-based funding.

Ms. Tolbert was previously the director of adult education at MPR Associates, which RTI acquired in 2013. Her background also includes serving as a state policy analyst at the National Institute for Literacy.