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Nannette M. Bowler Appointed Department of Family Services Director

Sept. 8, 2008

News Highlights 

• Bowler has been chief judge of the Family Division for the 8th Judicial Circuit, Ionia County, Mich., director of Michigan's Family Independence Agency and a member of the Michigan governor's Cabinet.
• Bowler's start date is Sept. 27.

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More Information  Family Services Health and Human Services

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors today appointed Nannette M. Bowler as director of the Department of Family Services (DFS). She will begin on Sept. 27.

Previously, Bowler was chief judge of the Family Division for the 8th Judicial Circuit, Ionia County, Mich. She presided over cases including guardianships of incapacitated and developmentally disabled individuals; mental incompetency hearings; child abuse and neglect cases; juvenile delinquency cases; and adoptions. She also has served as department head on the Ionia County Collaborative Board, a multi-disciplinary board serving children and families. In conjunction with other area agency directors the incoming DFS director developed a blended-funding model to improve the delivery of services to multi-system families in Ionia County.

As head of the Michigan Family Independence Agency and a member of the governor’s Cabinet, Bowler directed 22 programs, including child welfare, juvenile delinquency, adult protective services, adoptions and disabilities. She previously served as executive director of the Chance at Childhood: Law and Social Work Initiative at Michigan State University. She has also been co-founder and executive director of the Children’s Law Center and legal counsel/executive director to the Michigan lieutenant governor’s Commission on Children.

Most recently, Bowler was president of Conceivex, in Saranac, Mich., an international medical device company focusing on new ideas in reproductive health care.

In 2003, Bowler received the National Leadership Award from the Institute for Educational Leadership, in Washington, D.C. She is a member of numerous legal and child welfare-related organizations, boards, committees and associations.

Currently, Bowler is completing a master of laws program in intellectual property at Thomas Cooley Law School, Lansing, Mich., where she also received her law degree. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Bowler will receive an annual salary of $150,000.

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