Michelle Colvard

Michelle Colvard is a proud native Houstonian with over twenty years of research-related expertise in and around the Texas Medical Center, and a longtime champion for people with disabilities.

Michelle was born with spina bifida and is a full-time wheelchair-user. She works at a large academic medical center as a director of research administration. In her free time, Michelle has long been involved in advocacy efforts to increase inclusivity for people with disabilities, including in sidewalk accessibility, transportation, city planning and services, parks and recreation, and playgrounds. She is the recipient of the prestigious Jefferson Award in recognition of her volunteer and advocacy efforts.

Over the past two decades, Michelle has been appointed by multiple mayors to serve on several city boards, commissions, and taskforces as a representative of the disability community, including to the City of Houston Planning Commission, the Mayor’s Wellness Council, Houston Parking Commission, and as Chairperson of the Houston Commission on Disabilities. She previously served under Mayor White as Executive Director of the City of Houston’s Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, where she championed efforts to increase
access to city serves, transportation, housing, employment, and wellness and recreation initiatives for Houstonians with Disabilities. Michelle has also been active with efforts to build “disability inclusive” parks and playgrounds since 2005.

Michelle graduated Summa cum Laude from the University of Houston and earned her master’s degree in Health Promotion from the University of Texas School of Public Health, where she
studied health behaviors within the disability community. She is also a former Ms. Wheelchair Texas and Ms. Wheelchair America, roles which involved traveling across the state and the
country as an ambassador and voice for people with disabilities.

Michelle has been happily married for almost 30 years to her husband, Brian, and they are the proud parents of an elementary school-aged daughter. The family of three enjoy traveling and
having new adventures together.