Michelle Harper is currently the Finance Manager supporting the division’s reporting units’ financial and administrative staff. She will also serve as the lead contact for DDCE Business Contacts for all business processing including business contracts review/approval, sponsored grants accounting, and more. Michelle has over 25 years of administrative and financial experience, with 13 of those years at UT. She has worked in Engineering, Office of Sponsored Projects, and within the College of Fine Arts, managing multiple sponsored project accounts, handling faculty affairs, overseeing Workday business processes, faculty and staff recruiting, annual budget process, business processes improvement projects, and much more. Michelle has worn many hats in prior roles, including those outside of UT. You will never hear her say, “that is not my job.” Michelle was born and raised near the Corpus Christi coast and the DFW area but has lived in Austin for 23 years. Prior to moving to Austin, Michelle lived in New York City and Connecticut studying and traveling as much as she could. She completed her final year of university in Tübingen, Germany through a study abroad program with the Connecticut Board of Higher Education and the State of Bäden Württemberg and was the recipient of a full living stipend. She has a BA in German from Southern Connecticut State University. Michelle lives in south Austin with too many rescue dogs and cats and has two daughters, 22 and 18. She’s a plant enthusiast, loves nature, traveling, and volunteering for Austin Pets Alive.