Bellevue College Welcomes New Trustee Michelle Flowers-Taylor, Ed.D. 

From Student to Trustee, Alumna Returns to Serve 

Bellevue College is pleased to welcome Dr. Michelle Flowers-Taylor to its Board of Trustees, effective March 2026. Appointed by Gov. Bob Ferguson, Flowers-Taylor brings with her a unique perspective as a businesswoman, award-winning social justice media documentarian, and 1992 Bellevue College alumna.  

“My desire to serve on the Bellevue College Board of Trustees stems from a deep sense of gratitude and a profound commitment to paying forward the transformative experience I had as a student,” Flowers-Taylor said. “As a proud alumna, I am not just an observer of the college’s mission; I am a living testament to it.” 

Flowers-Taylor, of Mercer Island, said attending Bellevue College, then called Bellevue Community College, was “the crucible” in which her professional identity was forged.  

“When I graduated from Mercer Island High School in 1988, I was accepted to UW,” she recalled. “However, I visited UW and felt overwhelmed by the campus size and the classrooms. I shared my anxiety with my dad, and he suggested that I consider Bellevue Community College.” 

She toured campus and immediately felt at home, which allowed her to successfully navigate college life with confidence. 

Her educational journey led her to a successful career. Flowers-Taylor is now the Chief Media and Communications Officer at LegacyFirst, an investment management and commercial real estate services firm focused on transforming underutilized commercial real estate assets in gateways cities into their highest and best use. 

She is also an award-winning impact media maker whose mission is to leverage the powerful intersection of media and social justice to create lasting change. Her documentary work includes writing, producing, and directing “Reimagining Freedom West,” a film narrated by Danny Glover that won the Better Communities Award at the United Nations’ Habitat Better Cities Film Festival. She is a consulting producer on “Sign My Name to Freedom,” a biographical documentary about Betty Reid Soskin, the oldest U.S. Park Ranger, set for release in 2027. 

Prior to joining LegacyFirst, Dr. Flowers-Taylor served as interim CEO of Base 11, a nonprofit STEM workforce development organization accelerating STEM careers for women and BIPOC students. She was also the founding executive director of the Institute of Engineering Community and Cultural Competence at USC Viterbi School of Engineering, where she developed partnerships with Google, Tata Consultancy Services, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 

“Bellevue College exists in a dynamic relationship with the community it serves, and I am passionate about strengthening that bond,” Flowers-Taylor said. “As an active member of this community, I have seen the ways our college acts as an economic engine, a cultural hub, and a vital resource for lifelong learning. I aim to serve as a bridge, using my voice as a trustee to deepen these connections.” 

Flowers-Taylor said she will strive to build strategic partnerships that bring community resources onto the campus and ensure the college’s impact is felt more broadly throughout the region. 

Her board service includes serving as chair of the board for the Stanley Ann Dunham Scholarship Fund, as a board member for Girl Scouts of Western Washington, and as a member of the King County Film Advisory Board, which oversees the production facilities and sound stages at Harbor Island Studios.  

Flowers-Taylor holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from Loyola Marymount University, a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Anthropology from the University of Washington, and an associate transfer degree from Bellevue College.  

“I understand the student experience at a granular level because I have lived it,” she said. “My goal as a trustee is to leverage that understanding to engender similar, if not greater, transformative experiences for current students. I want to ensure that every student who walks through our doors has access to the same high-quality instruction, mentorship, and opportunities that empowered me to find my voice and my career.” 

Flowers-Taylor’s term will continue through September 2028. Learn more about Bellevue College’s Board of Trustees.