Michelle Ellis Young
Michelle Ellis Young
Chief Executive Officer
Michelle brings a unique and well-balanced perspective to her career and community endeavors. She is equipped with more than 30 years of experience advancing the mission of higher education institutions, non-profits, and corporations, strengthening the stakeholder experience, and conceptualizing innovative programs in community-centered organizations.
Described as a social connector of people and resources, Michelle is passionate about service and the development of individuals, especially women and young girls, and helping them to actualize their passion and purpose. She simply encourages people to walk in excellence and reminds them to Continue to M.O.V.E. ~ Meditate on Victory Every day!
Currently, Michelle serves as the Chief Executive Officer of YWCA South Hampton Roads where she stewards the organization’s mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
A socially-conscious business leader, she is committed to creating an inclusive marketplace by leveraging a cross-sector approach of engaging business, civic and community partners and creating spaces where people can use what she calls their T5: Time – Talent – Treasure – Testimony – Truth to build community.
Michelle is an alumnus of the Class of 2023 for both LEAD Virginia and CIVIC Leadership Institute and was recently selected to participate in YWCA USA’s inaugural Executive Leadership Cohort.
Her civic and philanthropic engagement includes member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.; Board of Directors for The Public Health Foundation, Virginia Stage Company, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce – Norfolk Division Board, NAACP – Virginia Beach Chapter, Association of Fundraising Professionals; advisory boards of American Diabetes Association, Women Who Lead, Market Heights Community Needs Assessment Team, Eastern Virginia Area Health Education Center, Norfolk State University – Robert C. Nusbaum Honors College, Women Impact Virginia Advisory Committee at Virginia Tech, and the President’s Council at Virginia Wesleyan University. In March 2024, Michelle was named Nexstar – WAVY TV 10’s Remarkable Woman which honors the influence she has had on social progress, quality of life, and celebrates her as one who inspires, leads, and forges the way for other women.
An ordained minister and proud native of New Orleans, LA, Michelle is a trained communicator who earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Houston, in Houston, Texas in Radio-Television, master’s in counseling from Hampton University and furthered her studies as a doctoral candidate at West Virginia University. She has made Hampton Roads her home with her family and is a die-hard ‘Who Dat’ New Orleans Saints fan!