Michelle Tissue
Financial Literacy Advocate
Personal Notes
I’m a public health professional, a financial educator, and a parent. All three roles have taught me the same lesson: financial stability is foundational to thriving individuals, families, and communities.
That’s why I lead Smarter Savings Association with a simple belief: financial wellness is a core component of overall wellbeing. We work with schools, credit unions, and communities to make financial education accessible, practical, and values-driven.
I’m also a PTSA board member at my neighborhood school, so this work is personal. I see firsthand how teaching kids about money early builds confidence and resilience. When families feel equipped to make informed decisions, everyone benefits, starting with the communities we call home.
Bio
Michelle brings more than 15 years of federal leadership experience at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she led strategic planning efforts, managed grant programs, and oversaw teams focused on advancing the upstream factors that shape health such as education, nutrition, and access to opportunity. Her background in public health, including a Master of Public Health (MPH) and certifications in both public health (CPH) and financial education instruction (CFEI®), informs her approach to SSA’s mission. With growing national recognition that financial instability belongs alongside other pillars of preventive care, Michelle brings a public health lens to SSA, treating financial wellness as a core component of overall wellbeing and community resilience.
Under her leadership, SSA has expanded its credit union partnerships and assumed leadership for initiatives like First Grade Futures, a program that brings 529 college savings education directly into elementary school classrooms. Michelle is also deeply rooted in her DC community, serving on her neighborhood school’s PTSA Board and putting SSA’s philosophy into practice by helping families build early money habits.
Michelle is an advocate for integrating financial education into the spaces where individuals and families already are, such as schools, credit unions, and community organizations. She believes that when people are equipped with the knowledge and tools to make informed financial decisions, they don’t just improve their own lives, they strengthen the communities around them.”
Michelle is an NFEC Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ (CFEI).
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