Executive Director for Resilience & Belonging@The University of Tulsa
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Dionne Michelle is an interdisciplinary trauma-informed executive leader who bridges the worlds of culture, strategy, and the arts to foster organizational belonging and transformation. With 20+ years of experience in a combination of higher education, nonprofit leadership, and creative practice, Dionne has built a reputation as a catalyst for connection, healing, and bold change.
Currently serving as Executive Director for Resilience & Belonging at The University of Tulsa, Dionne designs initiatives that center human dignity, intercultural fluency, and psychological safety. Her leadership philosophy draws from her background in the performing arts and storytelling, weaving empathy, courage, and creativity into spaces where people—and systems—can evolve.
Dionne has consulted across sectors, partnering with executives, boards, and ERGs to reimagine inclusion not as a checkbox but as an intentional and sustainable cultural strategy. Her facilitation style invites reflection, "edu-tainment", and realignment, always holding space for honest dialogue and transformation grounded in equity and shared humanity.
Whether designing inclusive leadership programs, coaching through cultural change, or curating intentional moments of connection, Dionne is committed to (and inspired by) the art of creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued.
She thrives in conversations around:
* Creative approaches to belonging and inclusion
* Leadership development through a cultural lens
* Navigating complex change with empathy and clarity
* Intersections of arts, equity, and organizational growth
Let’s connect if you’re working on projects where culture, courage, and creativity intersect.More...