Michelle Sanders, Assistant Director of Community Health for Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA). Professionally she works towards the advancement of Community Health Workers as health professionals. Michelle currently is a Community Health Worker Trainer/Facilitator for IPHA. Her professional achievements: she received her associate in business management and finance, and received her HUD Certification as a Housing Counselor, and Foreclosure Specialist through NeighborWorks.  Michelle has her certification in Grant Writing from The Grantsmanship Center, and she has received Residential Leasing Agent certification, through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Division. 

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Michelle has attended the Peoria Leadership School and is certified as a Senior Health Insurance Program Counselor, she completed her Certificate of Completion for Community Health Worker, State Certified Contract Tracer, and Certified in Mental Health First Aid/CPR. Michelle’s former positions include Director of Marketing, Development, and Community Engagement for local FQHC, she has developed and implemented a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee for a former FQHC and worked as a Managed Care Specialist, Program Manager for Area Agency on Aging, Grant writer and Homeownership Coordinator for the Center for Independent Living, Academic Advisor for local community college, Family Self Sufficiency Coordinator for local Public Housing Authority, and many years in banking working in Trust and Investments. Michelle sits on various boards in her community and is the staff liaison for the Academia Section for IPHA.

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Her passion is to educate and provide awareness in underserved communities. Personal Interests, bowling, travel, journaling, radio co-hosting and podcasting, and freelance writing for a local newspaper.