About

Michelle has a PhD in Anthrozoology from the University of Exeter.   She is currently an Assistant Professor of Anthrozoology. 

Following a long teaching career in public schools, zoos and museums, Michelle redirected her focus toward a degree in veterinary technology, and changed her career to include wildlife, conservation and animal rehabilitation. This led her to discover her passion for anthrozoology and the unique ways it combines these passions.

Michelle loves water and any large, grey animals that eat a lot of vegetables. Her dream is to spend half the year in the US spoiling her grandson and half the year in southeast Asia working with elephants and greater one-horned rhinos.

She has traveled to Nepal four times to build relationships with stakeholders and conduct research. She continues to work with local communities on conservation projects, animal welfare, sustainability and human-wildlife conflict mitigation.

Michelle loves to share her passion, and has served as a professional consultant for numerous articles in national and international online news outlets, an interviewee for Ivanhoe media video broadcast news and Fodor’s travel. She speaks at professional conferences and community seminars about conservation, humane education, elephant welfare, ecotourism and a variety of other topics.