Born and raised in Wyoming, Michael obtained his B.S. and Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. There he won both the University of Wyoming Outstanding Dissertation Award and the Sara Jane Rhoads Award for Outstanding Research for the Ph.D. Degree in Chemistry. Upon completing his graduate studies, Michael accepted a postdoctoral research position in the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Virginia. Michael's research focuses on environmentally and industrially important catalytic processes, from the desulfurization of petroleum feedstocks and the conversion of natural gas to liquid fuels to the selective oxidation of aromatic compounds. Published accounts of his research can be found in Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal of Physical Chemistry B, and Organometallics.

Michael has taught several Applied Mathematics calculus courses for the U.Va. School of Engineering. He is currently teaching a laboratory course for honor students in chemistry. He also works closely with a local company designing and implementing experiential learning programs for corporate and academic clients. Other teaching interests include active learning and adult learning.

Michael joined the Teaching Resource Center in the Fall of 2003. His responsibilities as a Faculty Consultant include coordinating the August Teaching Workshop, maintaining the TRC website, consulting with faculty and teaching assistants about teaching, presenting workshops, as well as variety of other tasks designed to enhance the University's teaching mission.