Detroit Mayor-Elect Mary Sheffield Appoints David Bowser as Chief of Staff
Bowser to Help Lead a People-Centered, Transparent and Equity-Driven Administration
DETROIT – Today, Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield announced the appointment of David Bowser, MPH as Chief of Staff for the City of Detroit, a key leadership role that will support the incoming administration. Bowser brings deep operational and structural knowledge and relationships, and a track record of advancing community-driven solutions to help build a government that listens to residents and delivers results for Detroiters.
Bowser served as Senior Policy Advisor for Mayor-elect Sheffield’s mayoral campaign and currently leads the Rise Higher Detroit transition team as the Director of Transition Operations. He brings years of experience working across Detroit city government, where he helped shape policy, develop strategic partnerships and programs and advance initiatives centered on health equity, resource access and resident well-being. Bowser previously served under the Duggan Administration as Deputy Director of the Housing and Revitalization Department, Deputy Director of the Community Health Corps and Director of Human Services.
“David Bowser’s deep understanding of Detroit’s communities and the challenges our residents face makes him uniquely prepared for this role,” Mayor-elect Sheffield said. “He brings a forward-thinking commitment to equity that our administration is being built upon. As Chief of Staff, he will help to guide a government that listens, puts Detroiters first and continues to rise higher.”
While at the City of Detroit, Bowser worked to expand access to essential resources for Detroiters, including helping to establish the city’s Code Blue tenant displacement support program, the Detroit Housing Services Office, providing case management to families who are at risk of homelessness and the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine, offering emergency assistance to Detroit residents searching for housing resources or in need of emergency shelter.
As Chief of Staff, Bowser will oversee City-wide communications functions, priority strategic initiatives, internal Mayor’s Office administrative functions, City-wide performance and process improvement and high-priority projects delegated by Mayor-elect Sheffield. He will also serve as a senior advisor to the Mayor.
“I have always known Mayor-elect Sheffield to be a highly pragmatic, people-driven leader with a unique ability to bring broad coalitions together around tangible benefits for Detroit residents. Her priorities of equity and collaboration are seen through her track record of impactful programs and legislation, and speak volumes about her ability to not just speak about change, but to actively facilitate it,” Bowser said. “It is an absolute honor and a privilege to continue to work closely with Mayor-elect Sheffield, now as her Chief of Staff, to amplify her voice and values, and to operationalize her vision throughout the Administration on behalf of Detroiters.”
Bowser is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and of the Creighton University School of Medicine, where he earned his Master’s degree in Public Health.
If you are interested in applying for a job in the Sheffield Administration, a list of current openings can be found at www.risehigherdetroit.com/jobs.
About Rise Higher Detroit
Rise Higher Detroit, the official transition initiative of Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield, aims to be the boldest and most inclusive engagement effort in Detroit’s history. The transition will help develop an official Transition Action Plan—a roadmap that reflects the voices, values, and aspirations of Detroiters. Together, we will help Mayor-Elect Sheffield realize her vision of an administration built on the voices and priorities of the people.
No public or campaign dollars are being used to fund the activities of the Rise Higher Detroit transition committee. The Mayor-elect and Detroit’s philanthropic community have collaborated to create a fund, established at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and supported by a variety of foundations and other civic institutions, to fund transition efforts, including community engagement and talent acquisition.