Michael Chirichello

Michael Chirichello, Ed.D. has experienced a dynamic professional career that spans five decades. He has served as a school principal, superintendent, and teacher for 30 years in urban and suburban school districts. He also served in higher education as Visiting Professor at Northern Kentucky University where his focus was on developing and teaching in a new doctoral program that served mid-career leaders across professions. At William Paterson University in NJ Michael held the positions of professor, chair, and program director. There he launched the Department of Educational Leadership and developed programs for school leaders.

Michael’s work centers on the intersection of the arts and leadership. Throughout his career in higher education, he has integrated the fine and performing arts- music, dance, watercolors, poetry, and cinema- with understanding leadership. His focus is on using creative and strategic processes to develop deeper understandings about the person we are and the leader we can become.

Michael is the co-author of Principals as Maverick Leaders: Rethinking Democratic Schools and Learning to Lead: Ten Stories for Principals. He has authored many manuscripts, articles and book chapters in professional and juried publications. Michael is a well-respected national and international consultant for school districts and professional organizations. He has presented thought provoking professional learning sessions on five continents and throughout the United States that focus on leadership, coaching/mentoring, performance appraisal, team building, organizational change, and curriculum design. He received his doctorate from Seton Hall University in New Jersey.

Michael enjoys cycling and has biked in the US and throughout several European countries. His motto is "Bike to 100."