Michelle Dees
Chief Strategy and Operations Officer

Michelle joined the Center in 2017 and serves as a strategic thought partner to Center leadership. She is responsible for managing the growth required by the Center’s Strategic Plan and ambitious mission, and leading coordination and collaboration across departments to ensure operational effectiveness. Michelle is a key partner to the President & CEO in making business decisions, and the go-to person on the Executive Team for resolving issues and ensuring effective and efficient day-to-day operations.
Michelle has more than 15 years of leadership experience in both the nonprofit and private sectors. Michelle joined the Center from IAVI (International AIDS Vaccine Initiative), where she was Vice President, Strategy and Operations, serving as a partner to the CEO and senior leaders to effectively implement change and nurture a geographically and programmatically diverse organization. Previously, Michelle worked in business development and marketing at a development-stage pharmaceutical company, and in the venture capital group of a boutique biotechnology investment firm. She has also worked in Guyana, where she was the Director of the Red Cross Societies Children’s Home.
Michelle received an honors bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and biotechnology from the University of Waterloo (Canada) and an MBA from the University of Western Ontario.