Glenn College Recognizes Visionary City Management Leader

Published Date May 20, 2026
News Type College News

Michelle Crandall, left, and other officials celebrate the 2024 ribbon cutting for the ADS Engineering and Technology Center in Hilliard, Ohio. Crandall was instrumental in shaping economic development for the city.

By Joan Slattery Wall

From her early start as an intern leading to 25 years in management with the City of Dublin, Ohio, to her historic role as the first city manager for Hilliard, Ohio, Michelle Crandall has demonstrated visionary leadership and a deep commitment to the communities she serves. 

At spring pre-commencement, Glenn College Acting Dean Stephanie Moulton recognized Crandall as the recipient of this year’s John Glenn Outstanding Public Service Award, which honors career contributions to public service and is presented annually to individuals who have distinguished themselves through service to the state of Ohio, their community or a philanthropic mission.

Now the chief member services officer of the International City/County Management Association, Crandall expands her impact, supporting and strengthening the profession on a national and global scale.

Celebrating the Class of 2026

Learn more about the Glenn College spring graduates and awards presented at the annual Pre-Commencement Ceremony.

“She is a mentor to many in the field of professional management, is widely considered as a peer leader across the state of Ohio and has been an inspiring role model, especially for young women entering the field,” said Megan Hasting, a Glenn College program consultant who coordinates collaborations with state and local government officials across Ohio.

Crandall exemplified her public service dedication in her leadership as the first city manager for Hilliard, Ohio, where she developed “Hilliard’s Promise,” establishing employee core values and associated behaviors and outcomes, setting standards for a culture focused on “a heart for service,” “strength in teamwork” and “drive for excellence.”

During her five-year tenure, the city’s economic development blossomed with more than $3.2 billion in investment along the city’s highway frontage and the retention and addition of more than 2,000 jobs. She led:

•    design and construction of a 150-acre, $108 million recreation and wellness campus. 
•    creation of the Hilliard City Lab, promoting the city as a lab for public/private opportunities that would leverage the city’s smart infrastructure to prototype new and emerging technologies, which brought more than 40 new startups to Hilliard.
•    investment of $40.5 million in the continued expansion of the city’s municipal broadband network, connected to adjacent cities.
•    initiation of a zoning code overhaul for several focus areas to ensure higher quality development and redevelopment.

She also ran a successful ballot initiative to increase Hilliard’s income tax rate for recreation and parks, updated a 10-year Comprehensive Plan and increased income tax revenue 84%.

A Glenn College Master of Public Service recipient, Crandall advanced over 25 years from intern to assistant city manager in Dublin, Ohio, where she supervised the Office of the City Manager staff and Court Services and directed the city’s Intelligent Community Forum Institute, a statewide membership organization. She also established the PIEworks innovation and process improvement team and led citywide strategic plans as well as city council annual retreat goal setting and execution.

Crandall’s recent leadership and service activities include vice chair of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, chair of the Central Ohio Mayors & Managers Association, mentor for Ohio State’s International City/County Management Association Student Chapter and member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for Ohio University’s College of Health Science and Professions.

She holds a BA in Political Science from Wittenberg University and a Master of Public Administration from The Ohio State University and received the 2023 Columbus Business First “Women of Influence” award in the Trailblazer category.