Michele Walsh, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Human Development & Family Science at the University of Arizona’s Norton School of Human Ecology. She serves as the Associate Director of Cooperative Extension Family, Consumer and Health Sciences and an Evaluation Specialist. Her work focuses on community-based research and evaluation, particularly addressing health disparities and wellness in rural and marginalized populations across Arizona and the Southwest. Walsh leads the Norton School’s Community Research Evaluation & Development (CRED) Team, which partners with tribal communities, governments, schools, and nonprofits to produce actionable data for program and policy decisions. She is affiliated with the Department of Psychology and the Institute for LGBT Studies. Her research emphasizes social and cultural determinants of health, rural health equity, and applied social measurement. Recent work includes evaluations of the Drug Treatment Alternative to Prison Program, a transgender youth intervention, and the First Things First Regional Needs and Assets Reports. She also explores kindness education in schools and caregiving challenges during the pandemic. Walsh’s publications span public health, education, and sociology, with a focus on translating research into practical solutions. She collaborates with diverse stakeholders to ensure community voices shape policy and practice.
