Michael is a 5th year doctoral candidate in the Adult Development and Aging Psychology program at the University of Akron. His research interests broadly include understanding perceptions, reactions, and endorsements of stigma with an emphasis on ageism, older sexual minorities, social relationships, and the link between health and minority stress. He has presented his research posters and presentations at state, regional, and national conferences such as the Gerontology Society of America, the American Psychological Science, and the Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education annual conferences. He is currently working on his dissertation that is examining day-to-day experiences stress and well-being in a lifespan sample of sexual minorities.