As a University of Illinois Extension Community Health Educator, Michele Crawford provides research informed health education to individuals throughout the lifespan. In this role, Michele shares knowledge and resources to empower individuals to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Through experiential based programming, she fosters emotional regulation through skill development in mindful movement, meditation, and breathing techniques. In providing professional development opportunities for teachers and school staff, she delivers training on recognizing and responding to trauma in the classroom. Her focus on healthy relationship education supports adults by providing tools and techniques for effective communication and conflict management. As Michele delivers programming in a variety of health-related topics, she is passionate about dissolving barriers in access to health information and resources among marginalized communities.

Michele earned a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in Gender Studies from Northeastern Illinois University and a master’s degree in Public Health from University of Illinois at Chicago. She holds a 250-hour yoga teacher certification, a 95-hour Therapeutic Children’s yoga certification, and is trained in youth and adult Mental Health First Aid.

Michele’s professional associations include Society for Public Health Education and American Public Health Association. She is a current board member and previous president of the Illinois Society for Public Health Education.