Associate Dean and Director, Leadership and Public Service – Lipscomb University

Michelle Cummings Steele (she/her) serves as associate dean of academics and professor of leadership in the College of Leadership and Public Service at Lipscomb University. Bringing to the classroom more than 14 years of experience working with governmental agencies, her passion is to teach people the power they have within themselves to effect change in their community. Michelle's pedagogy combines theory and practice in an approach to learning she likes to call "pracademics." Throughout her career, she has built a reputation for leadership development and community engagement strategies, incubating new models, and building out programs that work. Michelle possesses an unwavering commitment to connecting communities to resources and empowering others to unravel the mystery of working with systems and government to advance their personal pursuit of happiness and justice. Her vision and ability to nurture relationships have led to long-term solutions and success.