Chief Development and Marketing Officer

Michelle Dreyband brings over a decade of nonprofit experience and a passion for philanthropy, education, and community engagement to Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose. Most recently, she served as Senior Director of Philanthropy, Major Gifts and Campaign at the Computer History Museum (CHM), where she helped lead a $100 million campaign and managed a team of major gift officers in developing donor-centric fundraising strategies.

Prior to CHM, Michelle was Director of Major Gifts at The Tech Interactive, where she cultivated and stewarded a portfolio of local donors, many of whom she continued to support while at CHM. Earlier in her career, she worked at Digital Promise as a Brand and Partnerships Manager, bridging both marketing and development while supporting its mission to accelerate innovation in education.

Outside of work, Michelle serves on the board of Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose, a nonprofit working to build a permanent music venue in St. James Park. She is a lifelong musician and enjoys making music with friends in a variety of different styles.

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Music from San José State University and a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from Indiana University. She is also a graduate of Leadership San Jose, Class of 2020.