Michelle brings over 25 years of experience serving vulnerable youth through foster care, therapeutic parenting, mentoring, ministry, and juvenile justice education. Known for her hands-on, boots-on-the-ground leadership style, Michelle has directed youth missions programs, supported at-risk teens, and worked in community relations and leadership training across South Texas and through international ministry. She has also contributed to anti-human trafficking initiatives through an internship with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where she assisted in developing policies and writing grants to help empower and protect vulnerable children in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.

Michelle will be graduating in May of 2026 with her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership at Regent University’s School of Business and Leadership, with a concentration in Ecclesial Leadership. Her research focuses on organizational culture, leadership development, and mission alignment, exploring how healthy cultures mobilize people and strengthen the impact of mission-driven organizations. Her scholarship on leadership and organizational practice has been published in peer-reviewed academic journals. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and a Master of Public Administration from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

Michelle has been married to her husband for 23 years, and they have three children and one perfect grandbaby. Her faith and family inspire her passion for helping families heal, grow, and thrive.