Michelle Tallent

The Evolution Foundation was founded in 2003 by Michelle and Jeff Tallent to advocate for and support recovery-based programs for people with severe mental illnesses. The Tallents' passion for championing the cause of people challenged by mental health issues was driven by their adult son's diagnosis of severe mental illness and his struggle to regain his footing in the world.

Michelle Tallent created the name “Evolution Foundation” because she thought it represented the evolution of our society's progression in its understanding and treatment of mental illness.

Jeff became the Executive Director of the Evolution Foundation, and Michelle, the Chair of the Board. Together they led the work of the Evolution Foundation until Michelle Tallent passed away October 30, 2021.

Tallent was a person of great compassion, optimism, generosity, and hope who lived her life with zest and on her own terms. She was a self-taught artist and cartoonist with a wicked sense of humor.

Besides being a wonderful wife and mother, she was most proud of her roles as founder and CEO of Tallent and Associates, an executive recruiting firm specializing in telecommunications; co-founder and board president of the Evolution Foundation, a mental health advocacy organization; and co-founder of the Edmond chapter of the Oklahoma Depression & Bi-polar Support Alliance (DBSA).