Dongbin Kim

Dongbin Kim is a Professor of higher, adult and lifelong education in the Department of Educational Administration at Michigan State University College of Education. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles. In her role as Program Director for the Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education (HALE) Ph.D. program and Coordinator of the HALE program, she oversees graduate training focused on critical issues in postsecondary contexts. Previously serving as an associate professor, Kim has advanced to full professor tenure system, contributing to departmental leadership and the Center for Higher and Adult Education advisory board.

Kim's research examines equity and social justice in higher education, with emphasis on financial aid policy, college access for diverse populations, and international and comparative higher education dynamics in U.S. and global settings. Her scholarship appears in premier outlets such as Teachers College Record, Harvard Educational Review, Journal of Higher Education, and Research in Higher Education. Key publications include "Cross-racial Interaction Among Undergraduates: Some Consequences, Causes, and Patterns" (2004), "The Effect of Financial Aid on Students' College Choice: Differences by Racial Groups" (2004), "The Effect of Loans on Students' Degree Attainment: Differences by Student and Institutional Characteristics" (2007), "Brain Gain or Brain Circulation? US Doctoral Recipients Returning to South Korea" (2010), "International Faculty: Experiences of Academic Life and Productivity in US Universities" (2011), and "The Effect of Loans on Time to Doctorate Degree: Differences by Race/Ethnicity, Field of Study, and Institutional Characteristics" (2010). These works inform policy and practice on barriers to educational attainment. In 2025, Kim received an internal leadership award from the College of Education, selected by faculty representatives.

Professional Email: dbkim@msu.edu