Melissa Dowell

Manager of Product Development

As the Manager of Product Development, Melissa Dowell oversees the ideation, vetting, build out, and assessment of new products for The Allender Center. Since 2019, she’s loved working in a place where she’s valued not only for the work she does but also for the person she is. Melissa wears many different hats which keeps her job from ever being boring. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and also has completed iO Chicago (formerly Improv Olympics) improvisation training program as well as the StartUp Institute. Her training and experience in improv comedy show up every day when she has to think on her feet and create new solutions with a team. Melissa also gets to make people laugh at work, which is her most favorite thing.

Melissa is grateful to The Seattle School for moving her to the Pacific Northwest (PNW) when her husband, Jordan, started as a graduate student in our Master of Arts in Theology & Culture (MATC) program in 2015. After growing up in Georgia, and spending her 20s in Chicago, she now calls the PNW home. Outside work, Melissa performs theater and improv all around Seattle! She also enjoys exploring the PNW with her husband, Jordan, (her favorite human), and Walnut (her favorite dog).