My name is Michelle Leak and I have the pleasure of being your Admissions Counselor at Anderson University! I joined the AU admissions staff in May of 2012 and am very eager to start sharing my experiences with you all! AU has provided a safe, nurturing environment for me to work and process through difficult circumstances and harder questions in which I have felt supported and encouraged. I have also have had so much fun during my time at AU! From CAB events to Christmas parties at my professor’s house to Homecoming events, I have experienced a broad spectrum of the social life on campus and have developed strong friendships from these different campus activities.

This season of transition can be exciting and also ridden with anxiety. I would love nothing more than to help you make this transitional season a little bit smoother for you. I look forward getting to know you and helping you in any way I can! Feel free to email me at meleak@anderson.edu with any questions or call me at (765) 641-4096!

Educational Background

I graduated from AU in May of 2012 with a Social Work degree. One of the many aspects that I love about AU is the supportive relationships with faculty that I was able to cultivate. My social work professors became mentors for me as well as other faculty who were not directly connected to me academically. While I attended AU I was highly, sometimes overly, involved with Student Life. I was involved with Campus Ministries and was the student coordinator for the Christian Center, which is Anderson’s local men’s homeless shelter. I also was able to travel through AUEA (Anderson University East Africa) to Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya as well as Calcutta, India through AU’s affordable travel program, Tri-S (Study, Serve, Share). Through the social work program, I was also able to have a variety of internships at schools, a women’s transitional facility, and a homeless shelter.

Personal Bio

I grew up on the westside of Indianapolis and attended Ben Davis High School. I have yet to leave Anderson since I came here in 2008. Outside of the office you would find me doing many different things. I love music and especially going to concerts. Live music is so beautiful! I enjoy being outdoors and active. I have run in two of the Indianapolis Mini Marathons and am training for my first outdoor triathlon! I love to play volleyball and swim whenever I get a chance. I also love traveling internationally and observing how other cultures operate and people watching. I love learning new things and never want to stop being open to learning. I am very much a people person and love meeting new faces!

Favorite Things About AU

I absolutely love the fact that AU strives to connect students to campus, the city of Anderson, and across the world. We have a dedicated and fun group of students who make up the Campus Activities Board that plan affordable yet fun events every weekend so that students can connect more with each other. We have a Campus Ministries group which entails 11 different ministries that enable students to connect to each other and the City of Anderson. One aspect that is unique to AU is our travel program, Tri-S which stands for Study, Serve, and Share. This program allows students to travel around the United States as well as internationally for a very affordable cost. We have about 500 students who travel to 30 different countries. AU is intentional about bridging the gap between campus and other communities within Anderson and across the world.

Other things I love about AU: Social Work Department, AU Pool, Morrison House Staff, and the Valley in the fall, Café Ole, Rice Hall, and Encore!

The College Search

Finding a college that fits you is of the utmost importance. Starting out your college search process early would be beneficial so that you can find a college that suits you! Like I said earlier, feel free to email or call me with any questions regarding this process. I look forward to journeying with you in this and easing some potential anxiety within this transition.