Dina A. R. Israel

Dina Israel is a seasoned leader at MDRC with over two decades of experience advancing outcomes for families with low incomes, particularly through her deep and sustained focus on fatherhood policy and practice. As a senior field liaison, technical assistance provider, and project director, Israel has worked extensively with community-based organizations, local and federal government agencies, and national initiatives to help them design, implement, and evaluate real-world programs and policies.

Israel has directed multiple federally sponsored projects centered on fatherhood, including serving currently as project director for Responsible Fatherhood Local Evaluation Technical Assistance and Testing Identified Elements for Success in Fatherhood Programs. Her leadership in these initiatives has helped shape national conversations around parenting, economic stability, evidence-based strategies to empower fathers, and research methods.

Her expertise lies in translating research and actual experience into scalable policy and program designs. Israel is a trusted technical assistance provider to the federal Administration for Children and Families, including the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood technical assistance team, supporting fatherhood, youth, and healthy marriage service providers nationwide.

Israel’s thought leadership extends beyond project work. She co-edits InPractice, a blog that highlights adaptive strategies in social service programs, and is a featured voice on the “I Am Dad” podcast, where she shares insights on how research can support and uplift fathers and families.

She holds a B.A. from Oberlin College and a master’s in public policy from the University of Chicago’s Irving B. Harris School of Public Policy.