the encourager keynote speaker & facilitator
Press Kit
Everything you need to introduce, promote, and book elise michaux, ph.d. for your campus or event.
Short Bio - for event programs and introductions
elise michaux, ph.d. is a keynote speaker and facilitator who helps college students lead boldly and belong fully. Known as "the encourager," elise brings over a decade of higher education experience to stages across the country — combining Ph.D.-level research with storytelling that actually sticks. She has delivered keynotes at Penn State University, West Virginia University, Washington State University Vancouver, and Slippery Rock University, where she served as graduate commencement speaker in 2022. elise is based in Philadelphia, PA and available for engagements nationwide.
Long Bio - for conference websites, promotional materials, and event listings
elise michaux didn't plan to become "the encourager." But somewhere between an undergrad mentor handing her a bell hooks book and a decade of watching students discover what they were actually capable of — the title found her.
elise is a keynote speaker, facilitator, and educator whose work lives at the intersection of leadership, belonging, and the stories we tell ourselves about who gets to lead. She holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership from Gannon University and an M.A. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Slippery Rock University — which is a fancy way of saying she has spent her career both studying and being in the room with students and institutions trying to figure out how to do better.
Her signature talks — including "Leading with Meaning," "Believe in Your Magic," "Cultivating Grit & Resiliency," and "The Work of Belonging" — have moved audiences at colleges and universities across the country, from large public institutions to intimate leadership retreats. Her approach is simple: no jargon, no performative inspiration. Just honest storytelling, rigorous research, and a genuine belief that the people in the room already have what they need — they just need someone to help them see it.
elise is also a published co-author on racialized support and multicultural programming in higher education, a member of the Slippery Rock University Council of Trustees, and an adjunct faculty member at Duquesne University.
She is based in Philadelphia, PA and available for engagements nationwide.
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Booking Contact
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elise is based in Philadelphia, PA and available for engagements nationwide. For booking inquiries, fees, and availability: