Michele is the Student Success Advisor for the TANF Program. She was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. However, her parents originated from Mudfork in Logan, WV. Michele decided to return home in 2002 to move closer to her parents. She is the proud mother of 3 daughters, ages 35, 32, and the oldest daughter who is deceased. She also has 6 grandchildren, ages ranging from 7 to 15. Michele was previously a travel agent for 10 years and a former secretary-treasurer for her father’s company, Angels Enterprises, where she developed some experience in business and accounting. Her father passed away and her mother chose to close the family-owned business. She was faced with uncertainty and financial hardship when she lost her job. She enrolled in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, and she had to complete community service hours to receive monthly benefits. She was placed in the Excel Program on Southern’s Logan campus, which counted toward her community service hours. She stated, “This program gave me the courage I needed to continue my education at Southern.” She completed her portfolio in Excel and received 2 college courses that transferred to Southern. She graduated with 2 Associate degrees from Southern, Business Accounting and Business Administration. She didn’t stop there, she earned a Bachelor degree in Human Services and Counseling and directly after a Master degree in Education. As previously stated, she is now the Student Success Advisor of the TANF program, where it all started for her.

A.A.S., Business Administration, Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, 2018; A.A.S., Business Accounting, Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, 2018; B.S., Human Services and Counseling, Lindsey Wilson College, 2019; M.Ed., Education, Lindsey Wilson College, 2021