Michelle “Michie” Leccese is a PhD student at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Her research interests are at the intersection of interactive medias, prosocial behavior, and therapeutic practices: specifically focusing on video game narratives and resilience training for trauma survivors.  

Before coming to USC Annenberg, Leccese served as an adjunct professor of psychology at Pepperdine University, a fellow with the UCLA Center for Scholars, and as a user experience researcher with Activision-Blizzard Games. Leccese has consulted for Twitch on prosocial behavior, creator allyship, and community culture and is dedicated to making gaming a place where everyone can be who they truly are.

Leccese holds a master of arts in psychology from Pepperdine University, and a bachelor of arts in psychology from UCLA with a minor in disability studies.