Michelle Thackray serves Rice University by creating and sustaining key initiatives within Operations, Finance, & Support. With over 10 years of experience in organizational development work, she is responsible for leading and implementing the strategic plan process and developing a culture of trust, operational excellence, and accountability throughout the division.

Before joining Rice, Michelle was the Director of Strategy and Assessment at the Georgia Institute of Technology. During her six years with Georgia Tech, she spearheaded change management efforts for enterprise transformations, led strategic planning efforts for the division of Administration and Finance, and created programs to enhance organizational culture and leadership development.

Michelle obtained her master's and a doctorate in Industrial Organizational Psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology and is certified in change management by Prosci.