Michelle Whitten

Michelle Sie Whitten is the co-founder and executive director of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation in Denver, Colorado.[1]

Michelle Whitten
Born
Michelle Sie

Plainview, New Jersey
EducationTufts University (B.A. magna cum laude, Asian Studies); Peking University (IEE Exchange Program, Chinese language, Women's Studies); Harvard University (M.A. Regional Studies East Asia, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences)

Whitten started the Global Down Syndrome Foundation along with her parents, Anna and John J. Sie, the founder of Starz, in 2003, shortly after the birth of her daughter, Sophia Kay Whitten, who has Down syndrome.[2]

Since 2005, Whitten has served as the Executive Director of the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation (AJSF), one of the major sources of funding for Down syndrome research and programs, as well as medical care.

Education

Whitten holds an M.A. degree in regional studies (East Asia) and a graduate certificate in business administration, both at Harvard University. She holds a B.A. in Asian studies at Tufts University and she studied Mandarin at Peking University.

Career

She worked in the cable industry from 1993 until 2005. Whitten was President and CEO of Encore International, Inc., then the China arm of Liberty Media Corporation.[3]

Awards

Whitten received the Outstanding Entrepreneur Award and the Women in Cable & Telecommunications Walk of Fame Award as well as the 40 Under 40 Achievement Award.

For her work on behalf of individuals with Down syndrome, Whitten received the 2011 ICON awards for the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the National Football Foundation Community Outreach Award, the 2010 Rainbow of Hope Award from Keshet of the Rockies, the 2009 Developmental Pathways Frances Owens Family Involvement award, the 2007 National Down Syndrome Congress' Exceptional Meritorious Service Award, and the 2007 Arc Thrift Community Leadership Award.[2]

Board service

Whitten sits on the boards of ARC Thrift of Colorado,[4] Challenge Day Denver,[5] and the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome.[6]

References
  1. Radcliff, David (Oct–Nov 2011), "Michelle Sie Whitten: The up side of Down", Ability Magazine
  2. "Michelle Sie Whitten is devoted to family, Down Syndrome Foundation". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
  3. Chang, Leslie (1 Aug 2000). "Cracking China's Huge TV Market --- Reciprocity Policy Gives Unit Of Liberty Media Leg Up With National Authorities". Wall Street Journal. Encore is run by Ms. Whitten and her father, John Sie
  4. "Board of directors". ARC Thrift of Colorado. Archived from the original on 2011-10-15. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
  5. "Board of directors". Challenge Day Denver. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
  6. Founders and Faculty, Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, archived from the original on 2012-02-29, retrieved 2012-09-06
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