Michelle’s Words of Wisdom

My passion for looking up was sparked as a child by watching the Northern Lights dance and, later, fueled by observing craters on the moon in college. As CEO of the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, I encourage others to #LookUp at the sky we share and feel the infinite possibility it represents.

About the Author

An astrophysicist and first female CEO of the nation’s first planetarium, Michelle is passionate about her vision – to make astronomy approachable for people of all ages, helping them explore and discover the beautiful and vast universe. She’s assembled a stellar team within the institution and in her short tenure with the Adler has upgraded technology, furthered scientific research, developed creative programs, gained record visitors and members, and erased crushing debt. Michelle serves on several national and Chicago-area advisory boards and is a member of the American Astronomical Society and the American Physical Society.