Michael Nachef
A Model of Community Leadership
Since Michael Nachef graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University, he’s made a name for himself across Southwest Florida. He launched his career as a legislative aide in the Florida Senate before joining Lee Health in 2016, where he has risen through the ranks to chief of staff.
His extracurricular activities at FGCU, which included serving in Student Government and participating in Greek life, taught him how to translate what he was learning in the classroom to real life, he says. Those lessons have had an important impact on his professional life today.
“It’s what I do now — solving complex problems for Lee Health, working with our partners to understand what we need to achieve and then advocating on different levels of government to enact those changes,” Nachef says. “At FGCU, I learned how to manage a very busy schedule while working with people to build relationships and achieve a shared vision.”
He continues that work with his involvement in organizations like Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and by supporting the Alumni Association, which bestowed upon him the 2025 Alumni of Distinction Award.