My Coaching Story

Coaching & Connecting

Throughout my life as a mentor, teacher, and counselor, I have been privileged to seek direction from a number of fabulous people who helped guide me through transitions, including therapists, life coaches, mentors, and friends. I know, firsthand, the value that comes from having someone you can turn to when you feel uncertain.

My career began as a school counselor for students and young people. After many fulfilling years in that role, I transitioned to teaching and training graduate students as they became skilled counselors. For me, life coaching was a natural next step. My education and decades of life experience in a career centered on helping people build resilience and confidence prepared me well for the work I’ll do with you.

It's my mission to share my knowledge and walk alongside others aspiring to live their best life.

Dr. Marci Dowdy is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC) with 30 years of experience in counseling, teaching, and administration at the elementary, middle school, high school, collegiate, and post-graduate levels. Most recently, she served as Career Advisor/Pathways Consultant at Missouri State University, and she was previously a member of the Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Special Education faculty at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. In 2010, she was named the Southwest Missouri Post-Secondary Counselor of the Year. In 2020 Dr. Dowdy received the prestigious Missouri Ed Ailor Award http://moschoolcounselor.org/other-awards/.

Dr. Dowdy has been a writer, speaker, and consultant at local, state, and national levels and held leadership positions and membership in a number of professional organizations including the American School Counselor Association, Missouri School Counselor Association, and Southwest Missouri School Counselor Association. Dr. Dowdy served the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on a number of initiatives including the Missouri team for college and career readiness at the White House convening, Missouri school counselor curriculum writing team, Missouri school counselor mentor program, Missouri new counselor institute, development of the Missouri school counselor candidate evaluation, Missouri school counselor performance assessment development committee, and the Missouri school counselor advisory board. She was also a Missouri Supreme Court appointee for the Region XV disciplinary committee. In addition, she served on the board of directors and is past president of the Ozarks Counseling Center.

Dr. Dowdy also served as a member of the Missouri Valley College Board of Trustees for six years. She also served as a WW (formerly Weight Watchers) coach for three years. Her research and interests include data-driven school counseling programs, school counseling site supervision, and college and career readiness for K-12 students and adults.

Dr. Dowdy graduated from Missouri Valley College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in social work. She holds a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in guidance and counseling from Missouri State University and a doctorate degree in higher education with an emphasis in adult learning from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.