Gibbs first joined Hope in 2014 and served as the first director for the Holland-Hope College Sustainability Institute, a partnership between Hope College, the City of Holland and Holland Board of Public Works. In August 2018, she became the first director for Hope College’s Office of Sustainability, where she coordinates strategic planning, implementation, analysis and communication of campus sustainability initiatives by working with faculty, staff, students and alumni. One of her favorite parts of her role at Hope is leading a fantastic team of student interns, the Hope Advocates for Sustainability.

Education

• M.S., sustainable management, University of Wisconsin–Online Extension Program, 2018
• B.A., zoology with a specialization in environmental studies, Michigan State University, 2007

Professional experience

Before moving to Holland, Michelle worked at Lakeshore Technical College in Wisconsin as the next generation energy coordinator. Prior to that, she worked as an environmental scientist for an environmental consulting company. She also worked for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality while in college.

Awards and recognition

• Chair for the Living Sustainably Along the Lakeshore Planning Team, which won the 2016 Top Project of the Year award from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Neighborhood Environmental Partners Program
• 2014 Volunteer of the Year with the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council’s (MACC) Watershed Project

Why I love Hope

Michelle feels truly blessed to have the opportunity to work for Hope. She loves being able to work on educating the campus community and the greater Holland area about the importance of creation care and caring for our neighbors. She believes sustainability is a multifaceted topic that will take all of us using our unique talents and working together to create a more just and sustainable world for all. Michelle loves working with students on all aspects of sustainability and helping them find areas they are passionate about and learn how they can have an impact on our campus, our local community and around the world.

Outside the college

Michelle, her husband Travis and their two children are members at Zion Lutheran Church. She loves spending time with her family and friends, especially outdoors! She is a Great Lakes Girl and enjoys being in/on the water or hiking/snowshoeing the beautiful Michigan trails.