Areas of Expertise:

Michele is a native of Detroit, Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and earned her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and M.S. in Manufacturing Engineering. After working in manufacturing, she quickly realized that her interests were at the intersection of technology innovation and marginalized communities (rather than the efficiency of a manufacturing line). Therefore, she moved to Boston to work as a HS physics teacher for three years. Now, she develops proposals for promoting STEM careers among urban students while completing her PhD in Sustainability. Michele, along with her advisor, Dr. Gabrielle Gaustad, researches critical materials, recycling, and renewable policy of next generation photovoltaics in New York State. Michele has recieved honorable mention from both the Ford PreDoctoral Fellowship and NSF GRFP fellowship. After graduation (May 2014), Michele desires to work in D.C. to implement legislative strategy and analysis that informs national decision makers on environmental policy, especially for marginalized communities. In 20 years, she aspires to build a set of STEM focused schools in her hometown of Detroit.