Michelle is Senior Project Manager for education in emergency and humanitarian settings at
Association Montessori Internationale, the organization founded by Maria Montessori nearly 100 years ago. She has held several posts in government, international organizations and non-profits, the majority of which focused on building and launching programs and partnerships to support international human rights law, gender equity, and inclusion, including in the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Management in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Office of the Mayor of Los Angeles, and at Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative, where she supported the participation of women leaders in peace processes in conflict and post-conflict zones across Africa and the Middle East. Michelle has over ten years of experience in board governance in financial, non-profit and educational institutions, and is a Level 1 Certified Trainer in Kingian Nonviolence and Conflict Reconciliation.
She has also completed over 100 hours of training in nonviolent communication, and is currently completing a Certificate in Restorative Justice Leadership and Facilitation at the University of San Diego in the United States. Michelle earned her undergraduate degree at UCLA, and has a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University and an Executive Masters in Business Administration from Columbia Business School. She is fluent in English and Spanish, and speaks some Dutch and Arabic.