Michael most recently worked in international development as a Policy Analyst in USAID’s Bureau for Management in Washington, D.C. A first-generation college graduate from rural Colorado, Michael earned a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in political science and Middle East and North African studies from Denison University in Granville, Ohio. During his studies, Michael completed the Critical Language Scholarship for Arabic, studied migration in Rabat, Morocco as a Gilman Scholarship recipient, and later interned with his university’s Center for Global Programs. After graduation, he interned at USAID and then studied in Amman, Jordan as a Boren Scholar. Michael is proficient in Arabic.