Michael is the author of four books including Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt in Albany: Governing New York (History Press). Michael’s career was in the field of aging as a health and senior advocate. He was Executive Director of both the New York StateWide Senior Action Council and the New York State Alliance for Retired Americans. He was later appointed by two governors to serve as Director of the New York State Office for the Aging (2007-2010) where he prioritized community empowerment initiatives in counties, villages, and neighborhoods to better enable older persons to remain living independently in the community.