Austin Lowes ’12
Austin Lowes ‘12, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Paul E. Ripley Award for Young Alumni. The award, established in 1994, is presented to graduates who have achieved exceptional personal and professional success early in their careers.
A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Lowes has dedicated his career to serving tribal communities and advancing public health, behavioral health, and human services across Michigan and beyond. He currently serves as Chairperson of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians and President of the United Tribes of Michigan. In 2026, Governor Gretchen Whitmer reappointed him to the Michigan Community Service Commission as a representative of Native American Tribes for a term extending through October 1, 2029.
Lowes earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Lake Superior State University in 2012 before continuing his education at Michigan State University, where he earned a Master of Social Work degree in 2020. Reflecting on his time at Lake State, he credits the university with helping shape both his career and his commitment to public service.
“Lake Superior State University holds a special place in my life, not just as the institution where I earned my undergraduate degree, but as the foundation that helped shape who I am today,” Lowes said. “The education I received at Lake State was both practical and meaningful, giving me the tools and confidence to pursue my career with purpose. The close-knit environment allowed me to build strong relationships with my professors, whose mentorship and guidance had a lasting impact on my professional path. I was fortunate to learn from professors who went beyond the classroom, offering mentorship, encouragement, and real-world perspective. Their support helped me develop not only academically, but as a leader. That experience continues to influence the way I serve my community today.”
Before being elected to the Sault Tribe Board of Directors in 2020 and subsequently serving as Chairperson beginning in 2022, Lowes built a career in social work and human services. He served as a medical social worker for MyMichigan Medical Center and held positions with Hiawatha Behavioral Health, Bay Mills Indian Community, Montana Child and Family Services, Anishnaabek Community and Family Service, and AmeriCorps VISTA. His work took him to communities across Michigan and Montana, including the Sault Tribe, the Bay Mills Indian Community, and the Flathead Indian Reservation, where he worked with children, families, and individuals facing a variety of social, behavioral health, and community challenges.
In addition to his leadership of the Sault Tribe and United Tribes of Michigan, Lowes serves in several state and national advisory roles. He is Vice President of the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan and a delegate to both the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Tribal Technical Advisory Committee and the Administration for Children and Families Tribal Technical Advisory Committee.
His dedication to service and leadership has earned numerous recognitions, including the 2015 Montana Governor’s Award for Excellence in Performance, selection as a National Congress of American Indians Graduate Health Fellow, and the distinction of serving as Lake Superior State University’s 2025 Commencement Speaker.
Lowes and his wife, Tara Maudrie, Ph.D., are expecting their first child together this fall. He is also the proud father of two daughters, Emilia, 10, and Eden, 6.