Michele M. Lagnese, Director of TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) at the University of Pittsburgh, has devoted her 26-year career to the students of the TRIO federal education programs. Michele, a third-year doctoral student in Pitt’s Higher Education program, holds a Master of Arts in Student Personnel and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Slippery Rock University of PA. She worked with TRIO SSS and TRIO Upward Bound at PennWest Clarion University before coming to Pitt in 2014. Throughout her time in TRIO, Michele has played an active role in the state and regional TRIO associations, including serving as President of the Pennsylvania Association of TRIO Programs (PA TRIO) and Secretary for the MEAEOPP regional TRIO association. Michele resides in Slippery Rock with her husband, Robert, and their spirited Yorkshire Terrier, Riley. She loves traveling, reading, and hiking.