Michele leads TICAS’ work on federal policy issues related to higher education access and affordability. A nationally recognized expert on the federal financial aid and student loan repayment systems, her work focuses on protecting and strengthening the Pell Grant program—the cornerstone of the federal financial aid system—and on reforming the federal student loan system to protect and support borrowers.
Prior to joining TICAS in 2019, Michele was the director of external affairs and communications for Education Finance Council (EFC), where she advocated for increased investments in state-based college access programs. Before working in higher education policy, Michele started her career in the field of historic preservation, where she led successful federal and state advocacy campaigns to preserve American battlefields.
