Civic leader, associate professor Michelle Steele appointed Presidential Faculty Fellow
Kim Chaudoin |
Associate professor in Lipscomb University’s College of Leadership & Public Service, Michelle Cummings Steele, director of its Master of Arts in leadership and public service program and Department of Urban Studies, has been selected as the 2020-21 Lipscomb University Presidential Faculty Fellow.
Lipscomb’s Office of the President annually appoints a full-time faculty member in the role of Presidential Faculty Fellow to work in a one-year, part-time assignment with the president and members of the Senior Leadership Team. Each year nominations are received by faculty peers or are self-nominated because of their interest in higher education administration.
“The Presidential Faculty Fellow program is part of the university’s commitment to provide leadership opportunities for faculty members who may have aspirations to work in university leadership,” said Lipscomb President L. Randolph Lowry. “Dr. Steele has an extensive background in public service and passion for higher education. Through this role, Dr. Steele will have an opportunity to be exposed to the central administrative functions of a university, including work with the Board of Trustees. The role also provides an understanding of viewpoints of both faculty and administrators and thus serves as a facilitator on campus. We are thrilled to have Dr. Steele’s insight and expertise and look forward to our work together.”
Steele brings a diversity of experiences and perspectives to this role.
Michelle Steele
“I am honored to have been selected to represent the faculty of Lipscomb University in this role. It is a lofty responsibility, but one that is vitally important in representing the voice of the faculty in the president’s office,” said Steele. “I also have an opportunity to bring a unique perspective that represents a diversity of race, gender and age that is also vitally important. I view my work at Lipscomb as a calling and I am passionate about helping make this the best institution possible so that we continue to make a positive impact on the lives of our students. By working with senior university officials across campus and attending board meetings, the program will also provide me an opportunity for professional development and growth as well as a chance to be involved in new activities within our university.”
With more than 14 years of experience working with governmental agencies, Steele served as director of Nashville’s Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods for four years during the Bill Purcell administration, is a former case manager for the Mid-Cumberland Community Services Agency and supervised the customer service team at the Metropolitan Nashville Department of Codes and Building Safety. She has worked with countless local community groups teaching them to develop the capacity within themselves to affect sustainable and collaborative change.
In 2016, Steele co-facilitated the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County discussions on Race, Equity and Leadership (R.E.A.L. Talks) that brought together over 1,100 people from across the city. She has also worked with the YMCA of Middle Tennessee to facilitate community discussions about the future of the Northwest YMCA.
A native Nashvillian, Steele said she enjoys “work that helps to improve conditions for the beloved community.” She also gives back to her community by serving on the boards of Metropolitan Parks and Recreation, the Nashville Civic Design Center and the Association of Leadership Educators. Steele is a member of Leadership Nashville Class of 2019.
— Photos by Kristi Jones