Michele is a Sister of St Joseph of Lochinvar in the Hunter Valley, NSW.  From 1976 she taught in secondary schools of the Maitland diocese. In the late 80s she began theology studies, first at the Yarra Theological Union in Melbourne and then at the Catholic Theological Union, Chicago in 1990, graduating with M. A. (Theol.).

In the early 90s she taught New Testament at Catholic Theological Union, Hunter’s Hill and in many parishes and spiritual renewal centres.

After returning from studies for the PhD in New Testament at the Graduate Theological Union, in Berkeley, California, she joined the faculty of CIS in 2001 to teach New Testament Studies.