Michelle serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), leading a dynamic community of nearly 55,000 members dedicated to advancing high-quality early learning for all children. Her deep business expertise and genuine passion for educational advocacy drive her efforts to support educators, enhance quality standards, influence policy, and elevate the early childhood education profession. 

Before her tenure as CEO, Michelle was NAEYC’s first Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, overseeing operations across Membership, Early Learning Program Accreditation, Publications, Conferences, Market Solutions, and Global Engagement. Her experience at NAEYC was preceded by leadership roles at Bright Horizons, an international provider of early education. Over 16 years, she successfully built strategic partnerships with global employers to develop integrated child care solutions, including back-up care and educational advising, showcasing her ability to blend corporate strategy with supportive family services. 

Michelle's background as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrants has shaped her understanding of the varied needs within the education sector, enriching her approach to leadership and her advocacy for holistic education policies. This perspective, combined with her own experiences as a mother, informs her contributions as a respected voice in the media and as a speaker at national conferences. Her dedication to fostering leadership and mentorship is evident in her active participation on various boards and initiatives that promote workforce development in education. 

Michelle earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary, a Master of Education in Leadership and Policy from the University of Virginia, and a Master of Science in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management from Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. She lives in Maryland with her husband and three children, continually inspired to advocate for the transformative power of early childhood education.