Michelle Nunn

Michelle Nunn is a ninth-generation Georgian who has spent her life working to empower individuals and communities to make a difference by bringing people together in a collaborative way to solve problems and enact change. The daughter of Sam and Colleen Nunn, Michelle was born in 1966 in Macon near her grandparents' farm in Perry, Georgia. Engagement in public service has been a hallmark of Michelle's family, from her grandfather serving as Perry's mayor to her father's distinguished tenure in the United States Senate.

Through every milestone on her own life's journey, Michelle has applied the same basic principles and ideals of self-empowerment and innovative thinking to solving problems. She believes that coming together makes us stronger and that goals can be achieved by thoughtfully and respectfully focusing on what connects individuals rather than on what divides them.

After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Virginia, she returned home to Georgia. Seeing a need in Atlanta for a vehicle by which young people could engage in service to solve problems in their own communities, Michelle and a group of friends got together to create Hands On Atlanta, with Michelle as its first Executive Director. Over the next decade, Michelle grew volunteerism across Georgia, and eventually throughout the country, through Hands On Network, a national outreach of volunteer-service organizations. Michelle was selected for a three year Kellogg Foundation Fellowship that gave her an opportunity to travel the globe and work with civic and religious leaders to help them translate the common ground of their faith and ideals into building better, more productive communities and services.

In 2007, Hands On Network merged with the Points of Light Foundation, President George H.W. Bush's organization and legacy. After leading a successful merger, Michelle became the CEO and President of Points of Light, now the largest organization in the country devoted to volunteer service, with 250 affiliates and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations. Last year alone, they were responsible for 260,000 projects that inspired more than four million people to volunteer. That service was responsible for delivering 30 million hours of labor, valued at $635 million.

A milestone of bipartisan legislative achievement came in 2009 with the Serve America Act. Michelle partnered with Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) on legislation that provides small competitive grants to leverage and mobilize volunteers.

Michelle's uncommon leadership has been recognized and lauded nationally. The NonProfit Times has for six consecutive years named Michelle to its annual "Power and Influence Top 50" list of change agents, Fast Company magazine has highlighted her among "Social Entrepreneurs Who Are Changing the World", and she's been named among Georgia Trend's "100 Most Influential Georgians." Michelle holds honorary degrees from Oglethorpe University and Wesleyan College. President George W. Bush appointed Michelle to serve on the National Council on Service and Civic Engagement.

Michelle graduated from the University of Virginia and holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. She lives in Georgia with her husband, Ron, and two children, Vinson and Elizabeth.