Shella Bowlin is a Cherokee government official and business executive serving as the secretary of state of the Cherokee Nation since 2023.
Shella Bowlin | |
|---|---|
| Cherokee Nation Secretary of State | |
| Assumed office September 1, 2023 | |
| Appointed by | Chuck Hoskin Jr. |
| Preceded by | Tina Glory-Jordan |
| Personal details | |
| Education | Oklahoma State University–Stillwater Indiana University Bloomington |
Life
editBowlin was raised in Bowlin Spring in Craig County, Oklahoma where her great-grandfather had settled.[1] She is a descendant of a Cherokee Freedman.[2] She holds a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering and management from Oklahoma State University.[3] Bowlin began her career as an engineer in the airline industry.[4] She earned a Master of Business Administration from Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington.[3][4]
In 2004, Bowlin joined Cherokee Nation Businesses.[3] By 2020, she was the senior director of strategy and analytics for, overseeing long-term growth planning.[4] During her tenure, she mitigated the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on gaming, one of the tribe’s main business sectors.[4] Bowlin advocated for greater representation of women in management roles, noting the "broken rung" that limits women’s advancement in leadership positions.[4]
In 2023, Bowlin was appointed by principal chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. as the secretary of state of the Cherokee Nation, succeeding Tina Glory-Jordan.[3] She joined the three-person Task Force on Cherokee Nation Freedmen participation in 2024 to provide recommendations to ensure equal access to tribal services including healthcare, education, housing, and workforce training.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Our Fellows". African American Leadership Academy. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ a b Osborne, Deon (2024-02-20). "Cherokee Nation leads reconciliation with Freedmen descendants". Black Wall Street Times. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ a b c d "Second-term cabinet nominees announced". cherokeephoenix.org. 2023-08-11. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ a b c d e Bishop-Baldwin, Sharon (2020-10-02). "Women to Watch: Shella Bowlin has a plan for success". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2024-09-14.