Michele Hanlon relocated to Vancouver from North Texas in July of 2021. She has worked in the arts as a performer, creator, advocate, and arts administrator for over 30 years. Most recently, she served as Associate Dean for the Arts at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) in Richardson, TX. Where she successfully advocated for new printmaking and sculpture studios, an outdoor theater and dance performance/rehearsal venue, a music rehearsal and academic facility, and a state of the art gallery. As a Clinical Professor at UTD, she taught ballet and modern dance technique, composition, history, and arts appreciation.

For more than twenty years Hanlon co-directed Elledanceworks, a professional modern dance company based in Dallas, TX. Still active as a choreographer, Michele has received regional, national, and international recognition. Current projects include collaborations with poet Lake Angela of PA; and with the UTD Center for Translation studies.

She has served on the Executive Board of the North Texas Dance Council, and in 2016 completed the Leadership Arts Institute program presented by the Dallas Business Council for the Arts.

After graduating from Fort Vancouver High School, Michele Hanlon received her BFA in Dance from University of Arizona, her MFA in Modern Dance from Texas Christian University, and her Master of Public Affairs from UT Dallas.

Michele is happy to be serving on the Clark County Arts Commission as Education Commissioner.