Research Associate
mdschill@syr.eduMichele Dominique Schilling is a Research Associate for the evaluation of the Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs) Innovation Project in California. The PADs project is designed to support people during a mental health crisis as well as during the recovery process.
Michele brings a unique combination of research and creative industry experience. She previously worked in film as a writer and director, telling stories about the experiences of women and youth within the family unit and the social world, focusing on issues such as the impacts of micro and macro marginalization on mental health. With her business partner, she ran a film production company in Los Angeles and worked as a writer and consultant for media and publishing companies. Her academic research explored the impact of Orthodox religious institutions’ policies, focusing on the areas of rights, mental health, and stigma management using qualitative research methods such as in-depth interviews and thematic content analysis.
Michele holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in Sociology from the University of Colorado Denver.