CHILDHOOD
Michelle M. Kang was born Migyu Kang to Gideuk Kang and Gihwa Chang in Hongseong on the west coast of South Korea. She grew up in a big family consisting of her grandmother, parents, four brothers, one sister, and Michelle. She was the fifth child of six born to her parents. She lived with her parents in her hometown until junior high.
EDUCATION
Michelle M. Kang has an impressive academic background, with multiple advanced degrees and certifications. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature, a Master of Arts, and a Ph.D. in English Linguistics, all from Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea. Michelle furthered her expertise in 2004 by obtaining a TESOL certificate through a collaborative program between Hanyang University and the University of Oregon. Pursuing her passion for language education, she earned a second Master of Arts in Language Teaching Studies from the University of Oregon in 2007. In 2012, Michelle completed her second Ph.D., this time in Education with a minor in Applied Linguistics and Technology, at Iowa State University, solidifying her knowledge and skills in interdisciplinary approaches to teaching and learning.
CAREER
Michelle M. Kang demonstrated exceptional academic potential from a young age, excelling in all subjects during her elementary school years. Her talents extended beyond academics to the arts, where she was recognized for her singing, writing, dancing, and public speaking abilities. As a teenager, she dreamed of becoming an opera singer, a passion she nurtured throughout junior high and high school.
However, due to family circumstances, Michelle shifted her focus to English Language and Literature at university. While pursuing her first Ph.D. in South Korea, she embarked on a teaching career in higher education. Between 1996 and 2005, she taught English as a foreign language at several universities in South Korea, building a strong foundation in teaching and research.
In 2009, Michelle joined Iowa State University’s Intensive English and Orientation Program (IEOP), where she taught English courses until December 2012. In early 2013, she expanded her teaching experience by offering non-credit adult ESL courses at the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Urban Campus in Iowa.
Since 2014, Michelle has held various leadership roles at The Saigon International University (SIU) in Vietnam, where she notably served as the Dean of the School of Foreign Languages. Her work at SIU encompassed academic leadership, curriculum development, and faculty mentoring.
In October 2024, Michelle immigrated to the United States, marking a new chapter in her life. She now dedicates herself to working with One Life One Heart International, a non-profit organization she founded to support the mental healthcare needs of sexual abuse survivors.
FOUNDING ONE LIFE ONE HEART INTERNATIONAL
Michelle was sexually abused at the age of 4 for the first time. She had suffered abuse in her family, workplace, educational system, and personal relationships. It took her 40 years to confront the reality that her heart was in trouble. Her struggles with communication and relationships have created significant challenges throughout her life.
Michelle married Dr. Cho, a college professor in South Korea, in 1999. They had two sons and a daughter. Michelle had struggled with her previous issues throughout the marriage and faced the same communication and relationship challenges. Their relationship had fallen apart during her stay in the U.S. since 2005, and her husband took her kids with him in 2008. Being on her own in the U.S., Michelle relied heavily on alcohol to relieve the despair of not being allowed to contact her kids for about a year. Michelle divorced her husband in 2011.
Between 2012 and 2013, Michelle’s faith became a cornerstone of her healing journey, as she invited God to play a more active role in her life. Through prayer and reflection, she realized the deep wounds in her heart that needed healing. Her conversations with God gave her the courage to share her story gradually, breaking her silence for so long. This openness sparked a profound hope within her: a desire to dedicate herself to helping other victims of sexual abuse on their paths to healing by sharing her own experiences. Building on this hope, Michelle envisioned creating accessible programs and services to support the mental healthcare needs of survivors in their healing and empowerment. She aimed to offer resources anyone could access within compassionate and supportive communities.
She named her organization One Life One Heart, drawing inspiration from her experiences. For years, Michelle had tried to erase the memories of the abuse she endured, even wishing she could forget them entirely. Despite her efforts, the memories remained vivid and deeply ingrained in her heart. This realization led to the name’s profound meaning: every person has one life and one heart, which holds all of their experiences—joyful and painful. Michelle emphasizes that because we have only one heart—the vessel for all our stories—it is essential to care for, nurture, and keep it healthy. By doing so, we can lead fulfilling lives and embrace the full spectrum of our experiences. Through One Life One Heart, Michelle seeks to empower survivors to heal their hearts and find strength and hope in their journeys.