EDUCATION:

Shelley received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, cum laude and with honors in Political Science from Albion College in 1993.  While at Albion she was involved in a variety of activities including:  Albion College Honors Program; Mortar Board, serving as Secretary; Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honorary; Senior Class Council; Gamma Sigma Alpha Greek Academic Honorary; Omicron Delta Kappa, serving as Vice President; Sleight Leadership Program; Selected to attend National Leadership Camp on behalf of Albion; and was active in Kappa Delta Sorority serving as President, Vice President of Public Relations, and National Leadership Delegate.  Shelley also received the Kappa Delta Sorority Corre Anding Stegall National Leadership Award.  She had a paper published in the Albion Journal of Contemporary Affairs entitled, "Cuban Missile Crisis Revisited" and also had her Honors Thesis published.

Shelley received a Masters in Business Administration in Global Management, summa cum laude from the University of Phoenix in 1999.  She received her law degree from Wayne State University Law School in December 2003. 

LEGAL ACTIVITIES AND ADMISSIONS:

Shelley was admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan in May 2004 and the United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan in 2004.  She is an accredited attorney for the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for Veterans Benefits before the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – Accreditation Number 9071.  Shelley is a member of the Chippewa County Bar Association and the Women's Law Association of Michigan.  She is a recipient of a Certificate of Completion in the areas of probate and estate planning issued by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education and the Probate and Estate Planning Sections of the State Bar of Michigan for the years of 2007 - present.  Shelley is also a member of the Elder Law and Probate and Estate Planning Sections of the State Bar of Michigan.  Shelley also completed Michigan State Supreme Court Administrative Office 40 Hour Mediator Training in 2008.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING:

Shelley attended the 21^st Annual Correctional Accreditation Managers Association Conference in 2008 and received training in Offender Success- Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative Class, Second Chance at Life – Dog Program, and Work Release Programming for Mental Health Inmates/Jails.  Additionally Shelley completed the Dale Carnegie class, computer classes in Powerpoint, Windows, Excel, Access, Lotus Notes, Franklin Covey Time Management Class, CISR Commercial Casualty & Property Classes, Business Classes in Goal Setting, Telephone Skills, Negotiation Skills, Production Presentations and Business Writing, and Legal Classes in Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Prior to beginning her law career, Shelley worked at Electronic Data Systems (EDS) at Pontiac Motor Division and at Chrysler Corporation.  While completing both her M.B.A. and J.D., she worked full time at Chrysler Corporation at Chrysler Financial, Chrysler Insurance, the Office of General Counsel, and Warren Truck Assembly plant.  In the Office of General Counsel, Shelley served as a Case Manager Coordinator in the Warranty Litigation Department.  While at Warren Truck Assembly Plant, she worked in Labor Relations within the Human Resources Department. 

Prior to and following passing the bar exam, Shelley accepted a position as an attorney with The Miller Law Firm (formerly Miller Shea) practicing in commercial litigation in Rochester, Michigan.  While employed with the firm she worked on a complex commercial litigation case in federal court involving the areas of RICO, antitrust, contract, discrimination, partnership, tort, and business law.  She worked with the firm until mid 2006 when a change in her husband's career brought her back to her hometown of Sault Sainte Marie. Shelley is an adjunct instructor of Correctional Law at Bay Mills Community College in Brimley, Michigan and also serves on the Criminal Justice/Corrections Advisory Board. She also is an adjunct instructor of Policy Operations at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

PRO BONO:

Shelley's pro bono experience includes serving as a pro bono attorney for Project SALUTE (Students and Lawyers Assisting U.S. Troops Everywhere Exclusively with Federal Benefits) through the University of Detroit Law School Clinic.  Through this program she provides veterans with free legal advice in respect to legal issues related to disability and pension benefits from the Veterans Administration.  Shelley also developed a legal research and writing class for prisoners while in law school so that the inmates could learn to conduct their own legal research at Thumb Correctional Facility in Lapeer, Michigan.  She has also served as a guest faculty speaker for a Juvenile Corrections class at Baker College in Auburn Hills, Michigan.  Shelley was asked to serve as a guest judge for oral arguments for Wayne State University Law School's Legal Writing and Research Class.

Attorney:

Shelley J. White-Thomas was born in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan and is the daughter of Sam and Marcia White.  She attended Sault Area schools and graduated from Sault Area High School in 1989.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:

Shelley's community and civic activities include:  the Sault Ste. Marie Rotary Club where she served on the Board of Directors and as the Inbound Youth Exchange Officer and received the Sault Ste. Marie Rotary Club Rotarian of the Year for 2007-2008, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary, Post 9023, Brimley, Michigan, the American Legion Auxiliary, Post 3, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, the Sault Area Chamber of Commerce where she serves on the Board of Directors and is currently President Elect, The Community Dispute Resolution Center where she serves as a volunteer mediator, Women in Business in Sault Ste. Marie, and Order of Eastern Star, Queen of the North Chapter 82.  She serves on the Board of Directors for Northern Transitions, Inc. and on the Board of Directors for Superior Health Support Systems which is an organization that manages Hearthside Assisted Living Facility.  Shelley is also on the Board of Directors for the Chippewa County Chapter of the American Red Cross.  She is a member of Algonquin United Methodist Church where she serves as a liturgist.  In addition, Shelley also taught skating with Hiawatha Skating Club in Sault Ste. Marie for two years. 

PERSONAL:

Shelley has been married to Eric Thomas since 1994.  Eric is a graduate of Olivet College (B.A. in Wellness and Athletic Training) and the University of Phoenix (MAed in Adult Education and Distance Learning) and is an Assistance Resident Unit Supervisor at Chippewa Correctional Facility in Kincheloe, Michigan.  Eric also serves as the head wrestling coach at for Lake Superior State University Wrestling Club.