A Kansas native, Michelle graduated from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas in 2007 with a BA in Linguistics and began working at a Kansas City area children’s charity. In 2014 she moved to Boston to pursue her MA at Lesley University in International Higher Education and Intercultural Relations. She first joined MIT in 2014 working in the International Scholar’s Office as a Data Clerk and transitioned to her current position at IMES in 2015. She’s truly living the dream as Administrative Assistant and Lab Coordinator to the Shalek Lab, as she feeds everyone, organizes Dr. Shalek’s sunglasses collection, and provides emotional support and HR appropriate hugs. Michelle’s joys include diversity and inclusion advocacy, coffee, a good laugh, and running along the Charles River.