About Michelle
Accomplished Community Leader from our own backyard.
LOCAL ROOTS. PROVEN EXPERIENCE.
Michelle K. Brooks grew up in Torrance’s Hollywood Riviera in District #5.
She went to local public schools-- Riviera, Newton (now Richardson) and South High School playing varsity tennis and serving on the student council. She went on to El Camino and then completed her bachelor’s degree in business administration/international management at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo.
After a short stint in aerospace right out of college, Michelle focused her career on government relations and politics. She worked for two years for a Member of the California State Assembly right here in Torrance, then worked for eight years as the local government representative for a state-wide trade association.
Michelle then moved to Washington, DC and became director of communities for the Manufactured Housing Institute and then as vice-president of Government Relations for the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks.
Michelle then served at the Peace Corps in various capacities—including deputy chief of staff and director of Congressional Relations. Following the Peace Corps, Michelle worked for eight years in Global Health and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), including two years remotely as the head of U.S. policy and advocacy for Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases Support Centre, a UK-based NGO. Michelle returned to the Peace Corps, serving as the chief of staff managing the agency’s day-to-day operations and overseeing 1,100 staff members and over 6,000 volunteers.
Michelle moved back to Torrance to help care for her elderly mother and pursue a master’s in communication management from USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism graduating magna cum laude.
Michelle’s father was a U.S. Naval Officer, Harvard graduate, and aerospace executive. Her mother was a German immigrant, homemaker, and skilled gardener. Michelle grew up in a family rich in culture, history, and service.
Michelle currently lives back in her old Hollywood Riviera neighborhood, owns a local small business, and has one beautiful daughter adopted from India.