Director of Refugee Services

Michelle joined the Institute in October 2023, bringing with her several years of refugee resettlement experience from having previously served as a Reception and Placement program director at another local resettlement agency.  More recently, Michelle has worked in employment immigration and as a consultant.  Guided by the personal belief of “do with, not for,” Michelle is humbled, grateful, and excited for the opportunity to return to the incredibly important work of welcoming New Americans to Minnesota and partnering with organizations and individuals in our communities to do so with dignity and thoughtfulness.

Michelle earned an M.A. in Human Rights Studies with a concentration in genocide and atrocity prevention from Columbia University in the City of New York.  Prior to that, she received a B.A. in each French and Peace Studies from the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University.  In her free time, Michelle enjoys running, writing, gardening, and playing competitive broomball.