Michelle LaFortune-Wamego is a native Tulsan, full of curiosity and a passion for creativity. She is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Design, Housing and Merchandising;specialized focus in Apparel Design. Michelle has worked as a designer and patternmaker for women’s wear companies and as a production manager for a marketing inflatables company. Michelle lives in Tulsa with her husband and they have two sons. Her other hobbies include cooking, gardening, mountain biking, and sailing!
Education was not initially on Michelle’s career radar. She was offered an opportunity to be an “artist in residence” instructor at the secondary school level. She discovered that her natural curiosity for knowledge and her love of sharing what she is passionate about led to her success as an instructor. Michelle joined the Clary team in 2010 as an instructor of Fashion Design. Being in the classroom with students eager to learn is one of Michelle’s favorite place to be. In 2022 Michelle stepped into the leadership role of department head of the Fashion Design department to see the program grow and adapt for skills demanded for employment in the industry.
With nearly fifteen plus years of instructional experience and over a decade of managerial experience Michelle has a lot to offer her fellow instructors at Clary and last fall she also stepped into the role of Director of Education. Michelle takes everyones’ education seriously, from students to instructors; “we all have the opportunity to continue bettering ourselves with knowledge and skills.” Michelle strives to lead Clary to be the best educational institution in all the fields that its programs offer.