Michelle Marzullo

Point Scholar: 2004-2009

American University
Ph.D., Anthropology

Michelle was born and raised in Danbury, Connecticut, where after coming out she suffered a pernicious process of social and familial pressures intended to undermine her identity as a lesbian. Michelle has transformed her childhood experiences into an intense personal drive to raise public awareness on sexuality and gender issues. She has spoken at hundreds of events on homophobia and heterosexism; has written research briefs for the Human Rights Campaign and the Child Welfare League of America/Lambda Legal; and, has received the American University College of Arts and Sciences Dissertation Fellowship as well as various other scholarships. Her dissertation work focused on how the idea and practice of marriage has changed in the United States since the shift to a service-technology economy. Michelle plans to work in the areas of public policy and research. She was also the first recipient of Point’s Carlos Enrique Cisneros Scholarship, created by his friends and family to honor his legacy of business and philanthropic excellence for the benefit of LGBT students of distinction attending American University.