Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Michelle Nichols

She’s thoughtful, kind-hearted, resilient, and dedicated to helping children in her community. Meet this month’s volunteer spotlight: Michelle Nichols. During a difficult moment, Michelle steadfastly advocated for her CASA child’s best interests. Her unwavering commitment to the children she’s served exemplifies what it means to be a CASA. Since 2023, Michelle has advocated for two children from two families. This summer, she celebrated three years of service with Fairfax CASA. 

“Michelle is the kind of CASA who truly understands what it means to be a dedicated advocate.” her Supervisor Sneha shared. “She approaches her role with thoughtfulness, professionalism, and an impressive attention to detail.”

Before becoming a CASA, Michelle spent decades working as a Compliance Officer before deciding to return to school. While studying at Emory Law School in Atlanta, Georgia, she learned about the CASA program and became interested in its role within the court system.

“As I was getting closer to retirement, I wanted to start volunteering somewhere.” Michelle expressed.

CASA’s mission resonated with her for deeply personal reasons. She and her late husband internationally adopted their two sons. Through that experience, she saw the importance of support for children navigating complex situations.

“I was aware of the impact of trauma on children,” Michelle said.

For Michelle, becoming a CASA volunteer was an opportunity to support children during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Since becoming an advocate, she’s learned that advocacy is much more than simply showing up for a child.

Much of CASA’s work happens behind the scenes through court report writing, contacting service providers, and providing the judge with an honest assessment and recommendations based on the child’s best interests – even when those recommendations may differ from others involved in the case.

“We are there to remind them that there’s a child at the center of it all.” Michelle shared.

That commitment to keeping the child at the center has shaped Michelle’s approach to advocacy. She makes a conscious effort to build professional relationships with the families and caregivers involved in her cases, leading every interaction with grace and understanding, earning their trust along the way.

“She has shown remarkable skill in navigating challenging situations with patience and professionalism.” Sneha shared. 

When asked about her favorite memory as a CASA, Michelle recalled a simple but meaningful moment: when the children she served finally learned her name.

“The name Michelle is not easy for a toddler to pronounce.” Michelle said.

For Michelle, that moment represented something much bigger – the purpose of CASA: to provide a consistent, reliable presence for children navigating the child welfare system.

Michelle’s compassion for children extends beyond Fairfax CASA. She currently serves as a board member for the Ryan Bartel Foundation, a teen suicide prevention program based in Loudoun County. She also continues to work full-time for a financial services company.

And when she’s not working or volunteering, Michelle enjoys crocheting.

Thank You, Michelle

Thank you for giving your time, energy, and talents to Fairfax CASA. We are so grateful for your dedication, flexibility, and unwavering commitment to advocating for the child you serve. Your willingness to speak up for what you believe is best for the child — even when it is difficult — is a powerful example of what it means to be a CASA. We appreciate all that you do!