Michelle was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, then moved to England; Northport, Nova Scotia, Canada; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Metz, France; Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; and Raleigh, N.C., before finally landing in Asheville in 1986. In addition to working at The Van Winkle Law Firm, she teaches Legal and Ethical Environment in the Department of Business Management and Accountancy at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Michelle is married to Larry Farr.

Her passions include traveling by train in Europe, canoeing, and taking her pet-therapy dogs, Paddington and Kensington, to visit patients – especially children – at Mission Hospitals. They also participate in a first-grade reading program.

Favorite Food: Greek salad, homemade stew with rutabaga and parsnips

Favorite Music: The classical and jazz masters, as well as Willie Nelson, Gordon Lightfoot and Anne Murray

Favorite Authors: Lilian Jackson Braun, Anne Perry, Margaret Truman, Agatha Christie, Peter Tremayne

Favorite Movies: “The Inn of the Sixth Happiness,” “Mr. Roberts,” “Band of Brothers”

Last Place Visited: Vienna

Where She’d Like to Travel: Anywhere in Europe, especially Prague and Salzburg

Community Involvement

• Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
• Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, 2008-present
• Board of Directors
• Chairperson, Personnel Committee
• Asheville Humane Society
• Asheville Lyric Opera
• Board of Directors
• Asheville-Mountain Area Chapter of the American Red Cross
  • Board of Directors
• Asheville Symphony Orchestra
  • Board Member and Secretary, 1998-2002
• Paws with a Purpose