Shella Bowlin
Shella Bowlin is a Cherokee Nation government official and business executive who serves as the Secretary of State. She has held the position since September 1, 2023, after being appointed by Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and succeeding Tina Glory-Jordan.
Bowlin grew up in Bowlin Spring, Craig County, Oklahoma, and is a descendant of a Cherokee Freedman. She earned a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering and management from Oklahoma State University–Stillwater and later a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
She began her career as an engineer in the airline industry and joined Cherokee Nation Businesses in 2004. By 2020, she was the senior director of strategy and analytics, overseeing long-term growth planning and helping mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on gaming, a major tribal business.
Bowlin has called for greater representation of women in management roles, highlighting the challenges posed by the so-called “broken rung” that can hinder women’s advancement.
In 2024, she joined a three-person Task Force on Cherokee Nation Freedmen participation to advise on ensuring equal access to tribal services, including healthcare, education, housing, and workforce training.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 19:59 (CET).