the encourager keynote speaker & facilitator
Keynote Speaker & Facilitator
elise michaux, ph.d. is a keynote speaker and facilitator specializing in student leadership, implicit bias, and organizational culture — with a particular focus on colleges, universities, and the people trying to build equitable communities within them.
She has spent over a decade in higher education — as an administrator, educator, researcher, and now as a voice on stages across the country. Her talks aren't lectures. They're conversations that meet people where they are and move them somewhere they didn't expect to go.
Past engagements include Penn State University, West Virginia University, Erie Insurance, and Slippery Rock University's 2022 graduate commencement. She is also a published co-author on racialized support and multicultural programming in higher education.
If you're looking for someone who will show up prepared, read the room, and leave your audience with something they'll actually carry with them — elise is your person.
— e.
In May of 2022, elise was invited to be the commencement speaker for Slippery Rock University’s (SRU) graduate commencement. In her talk, she encouraged the graduates to use all of the things they’ve learned during their time at SRU to make the world a better place. She reminded them they are capable of anything, especially after pursuing a degree in the midst of a global pandemic. Watch the speech here.
Signature Topics
Leading with Meaning Leadership | Purpose | Authentic Identity
What does it mean to lead in a way that's true to who you are? Drawing from her work with students across the country, elise helps audiences connect their values to their leadership — and step into rooms they were told weren't built for them.
Delivered at: West Virginia University, Washington State University Vancouver, PASSHE Student Affairs Conference, Duquesne University Leadership Academy
Cultivating Grit & Resiliency Resilience | Perseverance | Growth Mindset
College is hard. Life is harder. This talk meets students where they are — in the middle of doubt, transition, and uncertainty — and gives them the language and tools to keep going. Because grit isn't something you're born with. It's something you build.
Delivered at: Slippery Rock University, PennWest California University
Believe in Your Magic Self-Efficacy | Identity | Empowerment
One of elise's most requested student talks. A high-energy, story-driven keynote that reminds students — especially those who have been told they don't belong — that they already have everything they need to lead, create, and thrive.
Delivered at: Penn State Harrisburg, Juneteenth Celebration PennWest Clarion University
The Work of Belonging Inclusion | Community | Campus Culture
Belonging isn't a feeling that just happens. It's something institutions and individuals have to actively build. This talk helps students and campus communities understand what belonging actually looks like — and what gets in the way of it.
Available for student audiences and campus-wide programming
Paying Attention: Understanding Implicit Bias Implicit Bias | Equity | Organizational Culture
Based on elise's original research and facilitation work, this session unpacks the unconscious biases that shape how we see — and treat — one another. Designed for faculty, staff, and student leaders ready to move beyond awareness into action.
Delivered at: Erie Insurance, U.S. Steel, Erie County Bar Association, Westmoreland County Community College
“elise’s inspiring words and cultural insights touched the hearts and minds of all those who attended the gathering. The speech was delivered with great passion and enthusiasm, keeping the audience engaged from start to finish. Her speaking style is relatable and personable, making it easy for everyone in the audience to connect with her message on a deeper level.”