Michelle Leccese

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, Michie 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. Michie 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.

Michie 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.