Expertise
Digital Accessibility, Video and other forms of media, Eventbrite creation and administration, Blog management and creation, Photo editing, Writing and Editing.
Research Interests
- Accessibility, specifically Digital Accessibility
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
Education
- Bachelor of Science (BS): Communications, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Biosketch
Michael helps ensure that UMass Lowell’s website content is clear, accurate, consistent and accessible. This includes building new websites, editing, troubleshooting and helping edit existing websites, forms, blogs, photos, video and more. He is the team lead on matters of Digital Accessibility and is a member of the university's Disability Advisory Committee.
When not doing web stuff, Michael moonlights as UMass Lowell's mascot, Rowdy The River Hawk. He was first Rowdy at the 2011 UMass Lowell Commencement and every ceremony since. Michael has been Rowdy for events ranging from Beam Singings, Ground Breakings, Move-ins, Convocations, Commencements and everything in-between. Social Media shoots have seen him as Rowdy “Test Driving the new North Campus Garage” to enjoying a last day at the beach before classes began and much more. The UMass Lowell TikTok is full of Rowdy videos. He taught WBZ-TV Meteorologist, Jason Mikell how to be a mascot for his “Do Your Job” segment and was live as Rowdy for 6 appearances during the 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. news broadcasts on November 11, 2024.
Previously, Michael worked as a Television News Producer, Sports Producer and Web Producer at the local, regional and network levels.
Michael is autistic and enjoys good puns, bad jokes, a good book, sports, superheroes and Star Wars. He's originally from Western Massachusetts and will shudder if you pronounce the "H" in Amherst. Outside of work he spends time on Massachusetts' North Shore with his wife and 2 sons.
Selected Awards and Honors
- Finalist for solo Pillars of Excellence Award – 2018-2019
- Nominated for Team Pillars of Excellence Award multiple times – 2018, 2017, 2016.
- Team Staff Honors 2017
- Citation for Outstanding Performance (Team) 2016
Licenses and Certifications
- Payment Card Industry (PCI) for Merchants, May 2025
- Payment Card Industry (PCI) for Merchants, April 2024
- Mental Health First Aid USA - National Council for Mental Wellbeing, June 2023
- PCI for Information Technology (IT) - Get Inclusive, March 2023
- Harassment Prevention and Title IX - Get Inclusive, April 2022
- University Relations Diversity and Inclusion Initiative Program, May 2021
- Intersections: Preventing Harassment and Sexual Violence, November 2017
- Conflict of Interest Law - Commonwealth of Massachusetts, November 2017
- Project Management for Everyone Seminar, July 2017
- Intersections: Supervisor Anti-Harassment and Title IX, February 2017
- Career Development Program - University of Massachusetts Lowell, April 2016
- Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) Compliance - University of Massachusetts, March 2016
- Effective Communication Skills - University of Massachusetts Lowell, December 2015
- PCI-DSS Compliance - University of Massachusetts, March 2015
- Effective Communication Skills - University of Massachusetts Lowell, September 2014
- PCI-DSS Compliance - University of Massachusetts, May 2014
- Managing Emotions Under Pressure - Pryor Learning | Fred Pryor Seminars, April 2014
- Strategic Hiring for an Inclusive Community - University of Massachusetts Lowell, September 2012
- Managing Multiple Projects, Competing Priorities, and Tight Deadlines - Rockhurst University, March 2011
- Conflict of Interest Law Online Training Program- Commonwealth of Massachusetts, April 2010
- Touchstones for Review (non-supervisory) in Preventing Sexual Harassment - New Media Learning LLC, September 2009
- Touchstones for Review (non-supervisory) in Respecting Differences, Preventing Discrimination - New Media Learning LLC, September 2009