Michelle Aldrich

Originally from Washington DC, Michelle Sebastian Aldrich and her family re-located to Chestertown in April 2022.  Michelle joined Washington College in August 2022.  She comes from a “legal” background, having over 35 years of experience in Intellectual Property (Patent Prosecution) and, most recently, in Food and Drug law.  Her higher education background prior to Washington College consists of assisting for four years an attorney who taught Winter Term at Harvard Law School.  She was responsible for preparing course materials and updating Canvas, liaising with Students, and communicating with the Registrar’s Office.

Away from work, dance and historical interpretation (18^th and early 19^th century) are the major activities for Michelle.  She has been an English country dance teacher and caller for over ten years.  She created and directed ECD in DC, an English country dance performance group that performed at the Folger Theatre and Dumbarton House in Washington DC, Woodlawn and Carlyle House in Alexandria VA, and Paca House in Annapolis MD.  Michelle and her husband, Charles, also appeared at Mount Vernon in the Central Passage – where no one has danced since the Washingtons – as part of the 260^th Anniversary Celebration of the wedding of George and Martha Washington, performing a minuet choreographed by Michelle.  As history interpreters, Michelle and Charles have appeared at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum and Carlyle House in Alexandria VA, Paca House in Annapolis MD, and Mount Harmon in Earleville MD.  Michelle hopes to develop a similar dance program in Chestertown.  Her personal belief is that everyone should…Come Dancing!