Educating students has been a large part of Michael’s existence as far back as his elementary school days where he assisted lower performing students grasp and apply educational concepts to their everyday lives.

As a secondary educator for nearly two decades, Michael was an instructor, assistant principal, principal, and district leader responsible for closing achievement gaps while ensuring students had opportunities to realize their dreams through educational pathways. He transitioned to working with adults who needed differentiated learning in the area of math to fulfill high school requirements in order to move on to postsecondary education.

As the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Success at the Tennessee Board of Regents Michael’s role has encompassed working with over fifty institutions of higher learning and more than 200,000 students annually. The overarching goal has been to increase degree attainment among students whatever their race, color, national origin, gender, disability status, or additional qualities and characteristics. He has led faculty through statewide efforts in articulating credit from high schools to associate degrees on through bachelor’s degrees. His communication and leadership have been effectively utilized through speaking engagements and tours while leading diverse groups of stakeholders during innovative programs: Tennessee Promise, Tennessee Reconnect, High Impact Practices, Tennessee Statewide Dual Credit, Prior Learning Assessments, Curriculum Pathways, Co-requisite Courses, Gateway Coursework, Academic Mindset, 9 hours in Academic Focus, 30 hours in first year, SAILS etc. while maintaining a focus on data to drive student-based decisions.

Michael has been recognized with national awards and currently serves as an active member in multiple non-profit organizations while actively participating on various non-profit boards/executive committees: one as the President, another as Program Chair, along with NAPE’s Executive Committee and Chair of the Public Policy Committee.

The National Association for Partnerships in Equity, NAPE, drew Michael’s attention with its history rooted in sex (gender) equity in 1979, which grew to include vocational education (now – career and technical education) and the legislative advocacy of each.  The incorporation of NAPE’s four pillars: “Public Policy and Advocacy, Technical Assistance, Professional Development, and Research and Evaluation” were important magnets. In Michael’s words, “The core of what I do daily, is to fight for those whose voices can’t be heard above the noise. NAPE is an organization, from within its very name, ‘equity’, provides for those same individuals through advocating legislative policies, while researching and evaluating effective practices and programs, to provide technical assistance and professional development to benefit those who otherwise would not be heard. It is an honor to partner with such an organization to make a difference in students’ lives.”