Michael McLendon performs work in planning, organizing, directing and coordinating the administrative and operational activities of the Cosmology Initiative. These duties include strategic financial planning, forecasting, accounting, student staff supervision, internal controls/procedures and procurement for the Cosmology Initiative at Arizona State University.

Michael grew up a avid Sun Devil fan and attended college at Arizona State University. Upon graduation, he spent 10 years at Motorola before joining ASU full time. Michael was the first and only recipient of the Most Spirited ASU faculty/ Staff Award. Voted on by his ASU peers. Michael was hired by ASU financial services department in 2006 and then moved to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dean's office working with the Financial services planning team where he worked for 4 years. He then moved into the ASU History Department (SHPRS) where he served as the Business operations manager, He then moved to his current role as Program Manager to facilitate financial operations for the Cosmology Initiative, The Cosmology Initiative at ASU bridges the School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) and the Physics Department, two academic units in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and represents a major new national program. With over 20 faculty members whose research activities include experimental, observational and theoretical cosmology and astrophysics, creating one of the broadest and deepest cosmology programs in the country.