Michelle is an award-winning, NIH-funded researcher at the University of Michigan with thirty years studying how to help people adopt physical activity and other lifestyle behaviors in ways that can be sustained within the unpredictability of the real world.

Since 1994, Michelle’s scientifically supported methodologies have been transforming peoples’ mindsets in ways that cultivate the daily decision-making that underlies behavioral sustainability. Her approach to creating sustainable change is based on a synergistic combination of academic research with real-world sustainable-change coaching.

Michelle’s research on creating sustainable changes in lifestyle behaviors is widely recognized as pragmatic for real-world applications. Her advice is sought by prominent initiatives including the World Health Organization’s Global Action Plan on Physical Activity and she was  selected to be the inaugural chair of the United States National Physical Activity Plan’s Communication Committee.

A sought-after keynote speaker and trainer, Michelle also certifies professionals in a system that flips people’s internal scripts about exercise so they stay motivated and licenses its rights to large healthcare and fitness organizations. Her client list includes leading organizations such as Kaiser Permanente, Walmart, The Permanente Medical Group, WW, Anytime Fitness, Adidas and Business Group on Health.

Michelle is frequently interviewed in major media outlets including The New York Times, NPR, The Atlantic, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Prevention, Real Simple, and TIME.

No Sweat!, her bestselling book, is being used to train individuals in health coaching, patient counseling, and fitness training across university and professional contexts around the world. Her second book, The Joy Choice, was named “one of the best health books experts read by 2022” in The Washington Post.

Michelle’s training and experience is uniquely comprehensive, including a doctorate in Psychology (PhD), a master’s degree in Health Behavior/Health Education (MPH), a master’s degree in Kinesiology (MS) and fellowships in translational research and health care policy from the University of Michigan. She is a Fellow with the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Fun fact: In 1992 Michelle ran with the Olympic Torch at the Olympics in Barcelona.