Michelle Q. Schneider, PhD, is Senior Manager at Courtney Quinn & Associates, where she leads evaluation, applied research, and coaching. She helps mission-driven organizations turn evidence and learning into clear decisions and lasting impact.
Michelle brings more than 25 years of experience leading organizations, teams, and programs. As Executive Director of Natural High, a national youth-development and substance-use prevention nonprofit, she grew staff and revenue eightfold and expanded the organization’s reach to 7 million young people. She built a national network of 20,000 educators and led the organization through major operational and programmatic transitions.
Earlier, as Family Services Director for Habitat for Humanity of the Jacksonville Beaches, she created a first-time homeowner support program that lowered mortgage delinquency by 75%. She also increased education funding by 200%.
Michelle is currently Director of Applied Research Services at the Center for Creative Leadership. There she built a new research function from the ground up and leads a team of researchers, evaluators, and strategists. In earlier roles at CCL, she led evaluation and learning for leadership programs across the nonprofit and social sector. Before CCL, she was a Doctoral Fellow and Research Associate at The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego, studying nonprofit leadership, succession, and organizational effectiveness.
A certified leadership coach, Michelle develops leaders through strengths-based coaching, candid feedback, and clear expectations. She is known for creating strategy from ambiguity and connecting people around shared goals.
Areas of Expertise
- Evaluation, Needs Assessments & Applied Research
- Executive, Leadership & Nonprofit Coaching
- Facilitation & Leadership Development
- Organizational Development & Strategy
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of San Diego
- Master of Arts, University of San Diego
- Bachelor of Science, Cornell University
Certifications
- Certified Leadership Coach, University of San Diego
- 360 Feedback Assessment Certification, Center for Creative Leadership
- 4MAT Advanced Instructional Design Certification
- Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP)
- Certificate in Fundraising Management (CFRM)
Selected Presentations
- “The Leadership Development You Already Own: Leveraging Transitions to Build Capacity,” Nonprofit Leadership & Governance Symposium, University of San Diego, 2026
- “From Sabbatical to Succession: How Interim Leadership Experiences Build Critical Capacity in Nonprofit Organizations,” ARNOVA Annual Conference, 2025
- “Building Leaders from Within: Lessons from Nonprofit Interim Leadership Experiences,” Nonprofit Leadership & Governance Symposium, University of San Diego, 2025
- “Amplify Your Impact: Integrating Leadership Development and Program Evaluation for Greater Community Outcomes,” Chronicle of Philanthropy Webinar (co-presenter), 2024
- “Bridging Boundaries for Social Change,” Independent Sector Upswell Conference (co-facilitator), 2023
Selected Publications
- “Format, Motivation, and Support Predict Persistence in Virtual Leadership Development,” Center for Creative Leadership Research Insights Paper (co-author), 2026
- “Navigating Chaos: How Mission-Driven Organizations Can Thoughtfully Utilize AI” (co-author), 2025
- “Unlocking Collective Genius Through Invitational Leadership,” Training Industry Magazine (co-author), 2024
- “Latinas Leading Change: A Case Study of Leadership Development for Community Impact,” Center for Creative Leadership (co-author), 2023
- “Strengthening Leaders and Building Capacity Through Nonprofit Sabbaticals: A Five-Year Summary of Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego’s Clare Rose Sabbatical Program,” The Nonprofit Institute, University of San Diego (co-author), 2020