Michelle Zabel

Michelle Zabel is the Executive Director of the Innovations Institute and an Associate Extension Professor at the University of Connecticut. With over 30 years of experience in child- and family-serving systems, she specializes in implementation science, crisis response systems, and sustainable financing for public services.

• Education:
  • BA from Eastern University
  • Master of Social Service (Clinical Track) from Bryn Mawr College

Her research focuses on:

• Health and human services systems redesign
• Workforce development for public systems
• Policy and financing strategies
• LGBTQ+ and early childhood population support

She leads multi-million-dollar federal and state contracts, including SAMHSA-funded initiatives, and has developed standardized evaluation frameworks for technical assistance programs. Notable achievements include receiving the 2022 Paula Hamburger Child Advocacy Award.