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Writer's pictureHomeward Bound Team USA

Meet Michelle! Versatile Consultant & Mentor



What’s your name?

Michele Finn


Where are you from? Where do you currently live?

The FROM part isn’t an easy question: Born in Meadville, PA. Grew up in Broken Arrow, OK. From there, I spent significant time living in Galveston, TX; Virginia Beach, VA; Honolulu, HI; Tampa, FL; Monterey, CA and Washington, DC. My answer to this questions is usually – all over the USA. I live in Orange Beach, AL now.


Where did you go to school and what did you study?

BS in Marine Biology from Texas A&M at Galveston.

MS in Zoology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.


Where are you in your career & what do you do?

I retired from the Commissioned Officer Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) after 25 years of service. (NOAA is a United States Government agency.) But, I’m not done yet. I am three years into owning my own one-woman consulting agency; focused on helping private companies and non-profit organizations obtain funding and successfully accomplish their goals. My area of expertise is fairly broad – if you need help with a project, let me know.


What is your favorite STEMM project that you’ve worked on?

In the early 2000’s, I supported a project investigating the impacts of the Saharan Air Layer on tropical storm development. (It most definitely does.)


Why did you apply to Homeward Bound?

I really like the idea of contributing to and interacting with a group of inspirational female leaders who are motivated to conquer global problems.


What do you like to do in your free time?

Exploration – nature, history and new places.


What is your proudest accomplishment?

Helping more junior people in my work environment overcome obstacles and excel in life and careers.


Is there a time you ever felt marginalized that sparked your passion in gender equality?

From the time I started my undergraduate program to this very day – 35 years later, at least weekly if not daily I have felt marginalized. My passion was sparked in the early 2000’s watching younger women struggle. The ignition of that spark came from the realization that I had been functioning as if it was normal to have to work harder, longer and better than the men around me just to have shot at equal consideration and that I was inadvertently setting up every female coming behind me to have to operate under those same expectations.


Who are your role models and why?

Three of my best friends. Because they do it all – highly educated and are always actively seeking knowledge; maintain more than full time, challenging professions; dedicate time to help their communities; lovingly take care of children, husbands, aging parents and extended family and enthusiastically support friendships. And they make all of this look easy and accomplish everything they do with love, grace and dignity.


Describe yourself in three words.

Ready, Willing, Able


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