Michelle is an environmental psychologist and lecturer in public involvement and public health.

She works jointly within the European Centre for Environment and Human Health and the School for Public Health Environments Research at Exeter (SPHERE). Her research in the ECEHH focuses on the use and experiences of the natural environment for common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, and she has most recently been involved in the delivery of BlueHealth, and nature on prescription, a feasibility study exploring nature based social prescribing for common mental health disorders. She also supports the delivery of the SPHR public involvement and engagement strategy, the innovation in involvement strand of the SPHR areas for research innovation, and is responsible for a number of SPHR locally focused evaluation projects.

Michelle completed her BSc in Psychology at the University of Exeter in 2008 and continued her studies with an Mres in Psychological Research Methods from 2009 to 2010. During these degrees, she undertook projects exploring factors affecting parenting style and adolescent mental health, and mindfulness based cognitive behavioural therapy training for parents.

Michelle joined the University of Exeter in 2010 on an Exeter Graduate Fellowship funded PhD studentship in the Mood Disorders Centre. During this PhD, she examined how cognitive mechanisms in postnatal depression affect maternal sensitivity and responsiveness.

Michelle went on to complete several postdoctoral positions broadly focusing on the treatment of common mental health problems in both an experimental and applied context. This work has increasingly focused on the impact and importance of the natural environment for health and wellbeing. She took up her first lectureship in 2020 within the Exeter Medical School at the University of Exeter, and now delivers range of modules across the Masters in Public Health, and is one of the core delivery team members for this programme.