Lecturer Spotlight: Michelle Silva

Michelle Silva

Flint. Dept of Language & Communication

Lecturer IV in Communication Studies

What are some of your professional achievements?

I am a Michigan American Council on Education (MI-ACE) Chiara Hensley Outstanding Institutional Representative Award winner. And along with Sade’ Wilson, I helped organize the 2021 virtual Women of Color Collaborative Luncheon. From the article on the UM-Flint News page:

“The organization [MI-ACE] works to create an open and equitable higher education environment in Michigan by providing networking, leadership, and professional development opportunities for women working in the academy.

“Silva and Wilson, along with the UM-Flint MI-ACE steering committee, organized the 2021 virtual Women of Color Collaborative Luncheon. Conducted during the height of the pandemic, this event provided an opportunity to explore the challenges faced by women of color in higher education and to strategize how to advocate for systems that value diversity. A conversation on authenticity between UM-Flint Provost Sonja Feist-Price and Mott Community College President Beverly Walker-Griffea was the keynote session.”

Read the rest of the article here.

What are you proud of as a lecturer?

My 12 years of teaching at UM-Flint.

What is something that you are proud of outside of your role as a lecturer?

If any of my sisters and brothers do not feel supported in their community, then neither do I. [Michelle has been an active member on the Flint LEO Campus Council and throughout her union fighting for better lecturer working conditions.]

What might others not know about you?

I'm crazy about chihuahuas.