National Director of Education Programs

SME Education Foundation

Dr. Shelley Wooley serves the SME Education Foundation as the National Director of Education Programs. In this role, she provides oversight of and directs the execution of SME PRIME® (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education), a national initiative that directly enhances the skilled trades talent pipeline and assists students across the nation strengthen their lifetime employment opportunities.

Shelley Wooley, Ed.D. has held leadership roles both in higher education as well as the K-12 arena. Prior to joining the SME Education Foundation, Dr. Wooley retired from higher education having served as the chief student affairs officer, the Dean of Student Life and Retention, at a small Michigan university. Dr. Wooley’s responsibilities were heavily focused on strengthening student success through the first year and enhancing degree completion. Her higher education background, coupled with her K-12 experience, provided a breadth of knowledge which supported a restructuring of the SME PRIME program into a comprehensive, robust and scalable program of tailored manufacturing and engineering education.

Wooley earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Central Michigan University, an Ed S in Educational Administration from Northern Michigan University, an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from Lake Superior State University and a BS in Business Administration from the University of Houston (Clear Lake). Her areas of research include service learning in secondary and higher education, college access, educational equity, post-secondary transition and first year student success. Having received a number of recognitions, Dr. Wooley is most proud of the 2010, recognition by the Sault Sainte Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians for her efforts in enhancing the college-going aspirations among regional youth, particularly Tribal youth.