As director of educated workforce strategy, Shelley Lowe brings together workforce development agencies, employers, and postsecondary institutions to design and promote strong, equitable pathways for adult learners to attain stackable credentials and degrees that lead to career success.

Prior to joining MCAN, Shelley was the executive director of career services for Davenport University, where she oversaw degree selection, experiential learning, internships, practicums, and fieldwork with her team of up to 21 career coaches across the state of Michigan. Shelley has also been a private business owner and has worked as a consultant for a variety of nonprofits, associations, and non-partisan political groups.

With a 2.2 GPA in high school, Shelley wasn’t sure if she was meant to go to college. However, with the help of her high school counselor and support from staff at Central Michigan University, she was able to enroll at CMU under academic probation. She studied there for two years and received specialized student support for low-GPA students, which helped her to identify a major and set goals to stay on track to earn a bachelor’s degree. Shelley ended her time at CMU with a 3.5 GPA and transferred to Michigan State University, where she completed a Bachelor of Science in human ecology, with a focus on merchandising management. Later in her career, Shelley enrolled in and completed an Executive Master of Business Administration program from Davenport University at age 50.

Outside of work, Shelley loves to spend time outdoors. Her favorite activities are hiking, camping, hunting upland game, gardening, biking, swimming, and skiing. When she's not outside, she's probably writing, and she recently developed a voracious appetite for reading. Shelley is happiest when she’s on a plane to a fun destination, on a chairlift heading up a mountain, or waking up before dawn in a tent, surrounded by wilderness.