Michelle Gilliard

Michelle D. Gilliard, senior director at the Walmart Foundation, provides leadership to the foundation's national giving program, currently defined by four focus areas: education, workforce development/economic opportunity, health and wellness, and environmental sustainability. The Walmart Foundation is one of the world's largest corporate foundations and made charitable contributions of $510 million between February 1, 2009 and January 31, 2010 in cash and in-kind donations globally, $467 million of which was donated in the U.S.

For more than 18 years, Michelle has worked on a broad range of education issues as including college preparation and access, student success, faculty development, student retention, service learning, college-community engagement, and organizational change and development in university settings. Expanding educational access among low-income, first-generation and racial and ethnic minorities has been a constant focus of her work and continues today in her role at the Walmart Foundation.

Previous positions include vice president for programs at the Foundation for Independent Higher Education, vice president for planning and evaluation and executive director of the Consortium for the Advancement of Private Higher Education at the Council of Independent Colleges, and executive advisor at MG Associates. Michelle received a Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Michigan, a master's degree in sociology from Brown University, an executive master's degree in international service from American University, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Dayton.

Currently, she is an advisor for national foundations for the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers and is on the board of Edgeworks Dance Theater.