Michelle Adato, a development sociologist, is a Senior Research Fellow in the Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division at IFPRI. She co-leads IFPRI’s Global and Regional Program on Large Scale Human Capital Interventions, and is the theme leader on AIDS, Community Resilience and Social Protection for IFPRI’s Regional Network on AIDS, Livelihoods and Food Security (RENEWAL) in southern and East Africa. Her main area of research focuses on social protection and other interventions that aim to reduce poverty and improve health, nutrition, and education. She has also worked on employment and livelihoods support programs, governance and policy processes, and community-driven development. She has conducted impact evaluations and served as a policy advisor on these topics for governments in Latin America, Asia, and Africa for over thirteen years. Michelle received a Ph.D. in Development Sociology from Cornell University, a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a B.A. from Colorado College.