Michelle Johansen

Michelle Johansen is an adjunct instructor of American History at Delta State University. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, she came to the Mississippi Delta with the Teach for America program. She taught for three years at Ruleville Central Elementary School before working for six years as a program coordinator with the Sunflower County Freedom Project, a non-profit education organization which works with middle and high school students.

The Sunflower County Freedom Project uses the history and spirit of the 1960s freedom struggle to motivate young people to become capable and compassionate leaders in their communities. Now in its tenth year, the Freedom Project offers intensive academic enrichment, mentoring, educational travel, martial arts training, drama performances, and media production classes. (www.sunflowerfreedom.org).   Michelle received her master’s degree in education from Delta State University.