About
Leave A Mark Press: Built to Leave a Mark.
Where stories, history, education, and purpose come together.
Leave A Mark Press LLC began with a belief that meaningful stories deserve more than a place on a page—they deserve the opportunity to reach people, preserve what matters, and create lasting impact. What began as an independent publishing venture has grown into a multidisciplinary creative company encompassing publishing, storytelling, public history, educational programming, speaking, and community-centered work.
How LAMP Began
The seeds of another creative direction had already been planted in 2017, when the birth of Dr. Dartis's granddaughter inspired her to begin writing for children. Children's literature would later become an important part of LAMP's growing catalog.
What began as a way to bring one long-held manuscript into the world soon became something larger. In 2017, LAMP expanded into children’s literature after the birth of Dr. Dartis’s granddaughter inspired her to begin writing for children. Her stories explore identity, family, imagination, culture, and representation, with a particular commitment to creating space for children whose experiences have too often been overlooked in traditional publishing.
LAMP’s publishing work later expanded again to include self-help and personal development, adding another dimension to a growing catalog. This work focuses on personal growth, empowerment, reflection, and practical approaches to helping readers move forward in their lives.
Over time, the work continued to grow beyond books. Dr. Dartis’s historical research and the recovery of family and community stories opened another path for LAMP—one centered on preserving history, restoring overlooked voices to the public record, and transforming research into meaningful educational and community experiences.
Today, LAMP brings together publishing, creative development,
public history, storytelling, educational programming, speaking, personal development, and community engagement under one purpose: using stories and knowledge to create impact that extends beyond the page.
Meet the Founder
Dr. Michelle D. Dartis
Founder & Creative Director, Leave A Mark Press LLC
Dr. Michelle D. Dartis is a scholar, writer, researcher, educator, public historian, speaker, and founder of Leave A Mark Press LLC. Her work brings together storytelling, education, historical preservation, personal development, and community engagement, with a commitment to creating work that informs, empowers, and leaves a lasting impact.
Her path to publishing was anything but conventional. After completing her first novel, she spent more than two decades navigating single parenthood, full-time work, college, and the question of what to do with the manuscript before ultimately choosing to publish independently—a decision that became the foundation for LAMP.
What began with bringing her own work into the world evolved into a broader creative vision encompassing books for adults and children, self-help and personal development, historical research, educational programming, speaking, and community-centered storytelling.
Dr. Dartis holds a Ph.D. in Human and Social Services, along with graduate degrees in human and social services, higher education (specialization: leadership for student success) and library science. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and an associate's degree in human services. Her multidisciplinary background shapes the way she approaches LAMP’s work, allowing her to connect research, lived experience, creativity, education, and storytelling across projects and audiences.
At the center of her work is a belief that stories matter—not only because of what they tell us about ourselves, but because of what they can preserve, teach, recover, and change.
Doctoral Scholarship
Michelle D. Dartis, Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy in Human and Social Services
Walden University
Degree Conferred February 9, 2025
Student Perceptions of Black Professors in College Programs
The Research
Student Perceptions of Black Professors in College Programs explored students’ lived experiences with Black professors and how faculty behaviors and interactions shaped their college experiences. Using a transcendental phenomenological approach, the study examined perceptions of caring, support, race, representation, and student–professor relationships. Through in-depth interviews with 10 participants, the research illuminated how Black faculty can influence students’ academic success, well-being, and sense of community.
About the Dissertation
Michelle D. Dartis. Student Perceptions of Black Professors in College Programs. Doctoral dissertation, Walden University, 2025. Doctor of Philosophy in Human and Social Services. The qualitative study used transcendental phenomenology, semistructured in-depth interviews, and a critical pedagogy framework to examine the experiences of 10 participants.
My doctoral journey was years in the making, shaped by persistence, research, writing, and a commitment to understanding the experiences of people whose voices are too often overlooked. On February 9, 2025, Walden University officially conferred my Ph.D. in Human and Social Services. The date carried an unexpected personal significance: February 9 was my father, Alfred Dartis’s, birthday. He had passed away in April 2022, making the conferral date feel like more than an academic milestone—it connected an ending, a beginning, and a legacy.
My doctorate did not lead me where I originally expected. After completing the degree and pursuing opportunities in academia, I remained rooted in the Human and Social Services field through my work as a therapist and behavior consultant, while my path increasingly turned toward the work I was already building through Leave A Mark Press—publishing, storytelling, education, historical recovery, and community engagement. The research skills strengthened during my doctoral journey now inform how I approach that work: asking deeper questions, documenting what might otherwise be lost, and creating spaces for stories and experiences that deserve to be seen and remembered.
From Doctoral Research to Leave A Mark Press
Beyond the Page
When she isn’t writing, researching, working, or building Leave A Mark Press, Dr. Dartis enjoys spending quality time with her family—especially her granddaughter, Trinity. She loves to read whenever she can steal a little time to do so and enjoys both watching and playing tennis. She is also a WNBA fan and proudly cheers for her hometown team, the Indiana Fever.
When it’s time to wind down, Michelle gravitates toward television and movies with plenty of action. Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Reacher, Lioness, Tracker, Hudson & Rex, Cross, martial arts films and series—and just about anything that falls into the ACTION category—are right up her alley.
Her favorite color is purple, which pairs quite appropriately with another lifelong love: Prince. A devoted Prince fan since the age of ten, Michelle’s appreciation for his music, artistry, individuality, and unapologetic creativity has remained with her throughout her life.
Books, of course, are never far away. She enjoys the works of writers including Terry McMillan, Alice Walker, E. Lynn Harris, and James Baldwin, but Audre Lorde holds the distinction of being her favorite author.
The Creators’ Table: Artist & Creative Entrepreneur Series
Leave A Mark Press LLC was selected to participate in The Creators’ Table: Artist & Creative Entrepreneur Series, a new initiative of the Madam Walker Legacy Center, developed in partnership with EMBOSS® and with support connected to the Indianapolis African American Quality of Life Initiative (IAAQLI).
The program was created to support and uplift Black artists, creatives, entrepreneurs, and business owners by combining access to financial resources with hands-on business development and strategic support. Participants have access to opportunities for startup grants and loan funding, along with a structured workshop series designed to strengthen and grow sustainable creative businesses.
Workshop topics include marketing, branding and digital identity, website development, content creation, targeted advertising, and other strategies essential to establishing a strong and competitive business presence.
Beyond its value to individual participants, The Creators’ Table reflects the importance of organizations investing intentionally in Black entrepreneurship and Indianapolis’ creative community. Leave A Mark Press LLC is proud to participate in an initiative that brings together community institutions, business expertise, financial resources, and entrepreneurial education to help creatives turn ideas into sustainable ventures.
For Leave A Mark Press LLC, participation in The Creators’ Table represents another step in the company’s continued growth—strengthening the business infrastructure behind its publishing, author services, public history, educational resources, community programming, and creative storytelling work.
Creativity grows through connection, community, and the willingness to keep building.
CREATIVE COMMUNITY & PROFESSIONAL GROWTH
The Creators' Table
Published Writing & Contributions
American Library Association (ALA)
Book Reviewer | 2010–2014
Dr. Dartis contributed book reviews to the American Library Association's GLBT Round Table, now known as the Rainbow Round Table. Her published reviews examined works centered on LGBTQ+ literature, identity, culture, relationships, and lived experience.
BlackPast.org
Independent Historian | 2013-Present
Dr. Dartis contributes biographical and historical entries to BlackPast.org, a digital resource dedicated to documenting and sharing African American and global African history.
Medium.com
Resilient Roots, Written Forward
Through Resilient Roots, Written Forward, Dr. Michelle D. Dartis publishes essays weekly that bring together personal reflection, family history, public history, lived experience, and storytelling—connecting the past to the present while preserving the stories and experiences that continue to shape who we are.
Featured Podcast & Media Appearances
Beyond the written page, Dr. Michelle D. Dartis brings her work and ideas into conversation through television, podcasts, interviews, and other media appearances. These conversations provide opportunities to explore storytelling, identity, publishing, public history, family, community, and the experiences that inspire her work.
Television Feature
WISH-TV / Channel 8
Rooted & Rising Stories & Identity | September 1, 2026
As part of WISH-TV’s I Love to Read! segment, Dr. Dartis appeared with her granddaughter Trinity on LIVE!STYLE!LIVE! to discuss her children’s literature, storytelling, identity, and the real-life experiences that inspire her work. The conversation also highlighted the special creative connection between MiMi and Trinity and the journey that ultimately led Dr. Dartis to rediscover the story of her maternal grandfather, Herbert Grigsby Hawkins.
GoodLife Bookstore — Seen & Spoken
Dr. Dartis joined The GoodLife Bookstore’s Seen & Spoken Author Series for a conversation about her journey as an author, publisher, and storyteller. The discussion explored her diverse body of work, the experiences that inspire her writing, and her commitment to amplifying voices, preserving history, and creating stories that leave a lasting impact.
ePublishing Experts
Dr. Dartis joined ePublishing Experts for a conversation about the real challenges of using AI-generated illustrations in children's books, drawing from her own experiences to discuss character consistency, creative control, and the realities independent authors may encounter when incorporating AI into the illustration process.
Dr. Michelle D. Dartis and her granddaughter Trinity during their WISH-TV appearance on LIVE!STYLE!LIVE!, September 2026.
Key Expertise
LAMP brings together publishing, storytelling, historical research, education, and creative development to help meaningful stories and ideas move forward.
Publishing & Creative Development
Publishing guidance, editing, book and story development, and creative project support.
Educational Programs & Speaking
Programs and presentations centered on history, identity, storytelling, literacy, and meaningful conversation.
Legacy & Family Story Preservation
Helping families document, preserve, and share histories, memories, and legacies.
Public History & Historical Recovery
Archival research, historical storytelling, family history, and recovering overlooked narratives.
Author & Project Consultation
Individualized guidance for authors, storytellers, and creators developing ideas and projects.
Community & Collaborative Storytelling
Working with organizations and community partners on mission-driven storytelling and educational projects.