About

Michael is originally from right outside of Washington, DC and attended New York University to study at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study. His concentration was a combination of sociology and metropolitan studies, looking at how communities and identities develop in public vs. private spaces, with an emphasis on education, culture, the arts, and community activism. He also pursued a minor in Media, Culture, and Communication. While he was there, he served as an Admissions Ambassador, Orientation Leader, and Peer Mentor for a variety of offices. He also held a variety of internships from record labels to community organizations like the Hetrick-Martin Institute. 

Throughout his educational experience, he was involved in a variety of social justice reforms from environmental activism to improving prison conditions at Riker's Island. He also began leading workshops and trainings on leadership and social reform for NYU student organizations, LGBTQ+ youth, and incarcerated individuals. This combination of passion for education and experience working with students inspired him to get his Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from the City of New York’s Baruch College. 

​During his graduate education, he worked in undergraduate and graduate admissions at a variety of institutions in New York City, while continuing to develop an activist identity surrounding public health, LGBTQ+ issues, and criminal justice reform. He then moved back to Maryland to serve as Director of Student Services at the University of Maryland. Once in the DC Metro region, he continued to volunteer with a variety of harm reduction organizations and teach at correctional institutions in Maryland and DC. He also taught at the University of Maryland as an instructor for an introductory seminar for first-year college students, and as an adjunct lecturer in the Leadership Studies department. 

This passion for education and social issues led to working at the Institute of Higher Education Policy (IHEP), focusing on the intersection of postsecondary education and criminal justice reform, with a special emphasis in civil rights. Following his role at IHEP, he decided to pivot once more, obtain another Master's degree in Organizational Leadership and Learning from the George Washington University, and currently works in corporate education. In addition to his work, he obtained his Leadership Coaching for Organizational Performance certification from American University and spends his days volunteering as a Community Educator with the Alzheimer's Association, and with his husband, son, and dog!