Dr. Michele is Michele Cooley-Strickland, M.Ed., Ph.D. She’s an award-winning licensed psychologist, researcher, and podcast co-host. She joined the UCLA faculty in 2009 and is now on staff as a Project Scientist in the David Geffen School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences. She’s also been on faculty at Johns Hopkins University since 1996, first as an Assistant Professor, then Associate Professor, and now Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Mental Health in the Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Michele is a therapist in her boutique private practice – Doctor Michele, LLC – specializing in anxiety disorders and helping people build life skills that empower them to become their best selves. Her personalized approach is tailored to help each client achieve emotional and behavioral health and wellness in a way that’s authentic, sustainable, and joyful.

Dr. Michele earned a Master’s degree of education in clinical and school psychology from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Virginia. She was born in France and reared primarily in Virginia.

Dr. Michele has been a psychologist, professor, and researcher for over two decades, giving over 100 regional, national and international presentations and publishing over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and clinical treatment intervention manuals. She has served the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on advisory committees, extramural review committees, and has been the principal investigator of multiple federal research grants. She is currently the co-PI of a UCLA study entitled, “Sex, Cookies, & COVID.” Dr. Michele has served on many panels and task forces for national professional organizations (e.g., American Psychological Association, Anxiety Disorders Association of America), as well as held elected positions.

Dr. Michele has appeared as an expert psychologist on the Physical Health episode of the Oprah Winfrey Network’s (OWN) spotlight series, “Speak Sis.” She’s also been an expert on KTLA-5 (Los Angeles) and the nationally syndicated Extra! television show as an Extra! Life Changer. Dr. Michele has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC’s Today Show, CNN, and CBS Early Show to discuss her family’s relation to our third American president, Thomas Jefferson. Dr. Michele is an eighth-generation descendant of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings.

Dr. Michele is the co-host of “The She Built It Podcast with Melanie & Dr. Michele,” which began in January, 2019 and airs in over 50 countries. The show targets women to help them take leaps in their life, career, and community (link HERE).

Dr. Michele believes in community service, was a Sunday School teacher for 7 ½ years, and holds an elected office on the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa del Rey/Playa Vista, serving as the board Vice-President. It’s a quasi-governmental agency of the City of Los Angeles representing over 55,000 residents. Dr. Michele is also a member of the Board of Trustees and Chair-Elect at Marymount High School in Los Angeles, which is celebrating its 100th year educating girls. Dr. Michele is also a member of the Advisory Board of Maple Counseling Center in Beverly Hills, which is celebrating it’s 50th year of service. Dr. Michele is a mother of two daughters, has a 2-year-old goldendoodle, practices kickboxing, yoga and weight lifting, loves to cook, bake, and volunteer in her daughters’ schools, and – when there’s time – paint.