Michelle is a mediator and nonprofit advocate with a heart for justice. She grew up running up and down the shores of Florida’s Peace River and Boca Grande as well as the rolling foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Tennessee—places that shaped her deep appreciation for peace, community, and restoration.

 

She earned her Master of Arts in Law from Regent University School of Law, concentrating in Nonprofit Law and International Human Rights, where she was honored with the Award of Excellence for her graduating class. During her time at Regent, she clerked for the Center for Global Justice, contributing to legal memoranda on international terrorism and the rights of children, and participated in several bipartisan policy initiatives. She also had the privilege of serving as Dr. Ben Carson’s RNC Delegate for Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District during his 2016 presidential campaign.​Michelle currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM), a U.S. Department of Justice–affiliated organization, where she helps advance initiatives in international human rights and access to justice.​

 

Before founding her mediation practice, Michelle spent over 25 years in nonprofit management, complex litigation, law and policy, serving with regional, national, and international law firms, state agencies, courts, and NGOs. Her jurisdictional experience spans state courts in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington D.C., as well as the U.S. federal courts, the United Nations, and the European Union. Her areas of focus include nonprofit advocacy, human rights, international law, and conflict resolution—with a particular passion for addressing violence against women and children and advancing the international rights of the child.​

 

Michelle is also deeply committed to elevating the role of paralegals and non-attorneys in the pursuit of justice. She believes these professionals are a vital yet under-recognized force in addressing legal desserts and bridging the access-to-justice gap. She advocates to equip, empower, and affirm their value as advocates for peace, fairness, and systemic reform.

 

​In 2022, Michelle founded The Advocacy Center, Inc. (TAC)—a faith-based regional, non-attorney international human rights and community mediation center dedicated to bridging the justice gap and promoting peace through civil and human rights.  She is also the owner of Sivan Holistic Beauty, Health & Wellness, LLC, a holistic and integrative beauty, health and wellness salon and spa that embodies her belief in the restoration of body, mind, and spirit.​ 

 

Across every endeavor, Michelle brings wisdom, insight and collaboration to the table. If it equips and empowers communities—she’s all in.​