When students decide to pursue a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship, they typically arrive with one goal in mind: to found a company. However, the broader business skills gained throughout the 12-month program can be applied to different ambitions, like community engagement and advocacy.
Meet Nia Lowery (BA ’23, MS ’24), a Double Dawg student-athlete whose passion for community building led her to the Foster School of Business. Today, she uses her education to strengthen her work as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks.
Nia Lowery (BA ’23, MS ’24) at the Seattle Seahawks headquarters and training facility. Lowery is the team’s Community Engagement Coordinator.
Community service nurtures a sense of purpose
From childhood, Lowery always had a knack for bringing people together.
Her inspiration began in high school with a senior project about nonprofits. “It was successful, and that’s where my passion first started,” she shares. “I remember thinking, ‘I feel really good doing this. This feels like the right thing to do.’ That experience opened the door for me to get more involved in my community and continue doing volunteer work.”
Lowery also credits her parents for her enthusiasm for community service. “My mom was an educator for over 20 years, and my dad worked in juvenile justice. I grew up seeing how committed they were to serving and supporting their communities. I think that naturally shaped the way I thought about service and the kind of work that intrigued me.”
Being surrounded by their missions and dedication to community throughout her childhood led Lowery to continue pursuing community service in college, all while playing D1 basketball.
Being a student-athlete, especially at a Power 4 school like the University of Washington, can enhance the undergraduate experience. This rang true for Lowery, who was pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Law, Society, and Justice (LSJ). Despite the demands of practice and games, she found time to fuel her other passions.
“I started off as a Community Relations Officer for the Black Student Athletes Association (BSAA) in my sophomore year, and when I got to my senior year, I became the vice president. I was able to connect with my community and other athletes.”
The work became especially meaningful during a period when Lowery was navigating coaching staff changes, the COVID-19 pandemic, and an ACL tear. Community involvement gave her a sense of purpose and connection outside of basketball.
“That’s when I started doing more within the community; working specifically with BCAA to connect our Black student athletes to experiences outside of just being an athlete.”
Using business skills for social justice
So, how does a Law, Society, and Justice major find herself in the Foster School’s MS in Entrepreneurship program and later working with an NFL team that just won the Super Bowl? One word: amplification.
“Through my undergraduate degree, I developed an understanding of how societies work and how systems can favor and value certain people over others. I realized that business could be another avenue for creating impact. Entrepreneurship can be a tool to amplify communities, create opportunities, and ultimately serve as a form of social justice.”
That mindset, along with her uncertainty about her future career aspirations outside basketball, inspired Lowery to begin the MS in Entrepreneurship in June 2023.
But that’s not to say she didn’t have a passion for entrepreneurship until starting the program. Lowery shared that she had an “invention book” growing up, in which she would create whatever new businesses or products came to mind.
“The MS in Entrepreneurship was a huge driver for me to learn business, learn from my peers, and see how the program was a game-changer for them. I came to understand that business can also be a form of community. One of the biggest things I learned was how to pitch myself—not just a product.”
Lowery’s path has taken her from UW student-athlete to Foster graduate to the NFL, with community engagement remaining a constant throughout.
Balancing business and community
The ability to pitch new ideas is a foundation of both business and sports. As Community Engagement Coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, Lowery supports program ideation, liaises with nonprofit and corporate partners, and regularly works with community members. In the role, she balances business and community in an impactful way.
“I work primarily in the Social Justice and Youth Empowerment space, through programs like 12 Pages and Game Changers, as well as our civic engagement initiatives, and Inspire Change. I have the opportunity to amplify nonprofits and community partners and put their work on a larger stage. That benefits the organizations, but it also benefits us. We learn from these partnerships, build relationships, and become more connected to the communities we serve.”
12 Pages is a state-wide effort to encourage youth literacy across Washington. Kids can track their reading minutes, earn rewards, and compete for exciting opportunities like a Gameday spotlight or a meeting with Blitz the Seahawk. Game Changers is a six-to-eight-week program designed to engage youth and teens from the Boys and Girls Club of King County with leadership opportunities and community empowerment.
Uplifting communities during a championship season
The 2025-26 NFL season was Lowery’s first with the Seahawks, and what a season it was. Lowery experienced Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in person with her team. She expressed her constant nerves while watching the Seahawks battle the New England Patriots, but in the end, all she felt was excitement.
“There was a bit of juxtaposition during the game, but when the buzzer went off, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. We’re here. This is amazing. And we won!’”
On top of a stellar Super Bowl LX Championship, Lowery notes some of her favorite community-building efforts throughout the year.
“We were in our fifth session of Game Changers, and I went up to one of the kids and said, ‘Hey, our next session is our last session.’ He looked at me and said, ‘I can’t believe it’s our last session. This is where I can talk about things and meet friends. Sometimes friends don’t give good advice, but I can talk about things with the adults here.’”
Another activation from the season that stuck with Lowery was the Seahawks’ partnership with UW Tacoma and the Husky Post Prison Pathways (HP3) program, which focuses on supporting formerly incarcerated individuals in accessing higher education opportunities.
Launched in the 2024-2025 academic year, HP3 is rooted in engagement and peer mentorship, ensuring those leaving the criminal legal system have the resources to succeed from college to career. This year, Lowery and her team amplified the organization by highlighting three women who used education to start anew after incarceration.
“We brought the community together and created an opportunity to celebrate these women and their stories. These women used education as a vehicle for change in their lives. We were also able to give gifts to the kids and support the community during the holiday season. The organization serves people of all genders, but we wanted to intentionally highlight the experiences of women. I think their experiences can sometimes be overlooked within the criminal legal system, so it was important for us to create space to spotlight their stories.”
“It’s amazing to give back and be in the community. You get to meet so many amazing people who are really passionate about uplifting their communities. It’s inspiring.”
For Lowery, working in professional sports has created a new avenue for a longtime passion: bringing people together and strengthening communities.
The many pathways to a career that inspires
In hindsight, Lowery is grateful for the skills she gained in Foster’s MS in Entrepreneurship program, many of which she continues to utilize with the Seahawks.
“Excel! I love Excel, and I love making a budget sheet. That’s definitely something I took with me [from the MS in Entrepreneurship]. But I also learned a lot about the selling aspect—being able to sell anything, including yourself. I think about that a lot now. Whenever I’m putting myself out there, I ask myself, ‘How can I make sure people understand my value? How can I communicate what I’ve done and what I know?’”
Lowery’s journey was anything but ordinary, shifting from law to entrepreneurship to sports. However, her passion for community remained consistent. Thanks to the MS Entrepreneurship program and her experience as a student-athlete, Lowery has built a true winner’s mindset that helps her thrive in all she does.
When asked for her advice for current students and aspiring entrepreneurs, she shared that there is no one guaranteed path; no one perfect route.
“Paths are like branches. One thing leads to something else. For me, I was just persistent. I was determined not to let anything waver me. Having good people around me and having my family really helped, too. Perseverance and faith have been important to me—continuing to be the person I want to be every day, regardless of what’s going on. I never wanted to be a situational person. I always wanted to be consistent in who I am and how I show up, even when things don’t go the way I planned. Obviously, there are times when I fail, but consistency has always been my goal.”
“Never close yourself off to one path,” she concludes. “I didn’t even know this role existed, but I kept searching and talking to people. As long as the effort is there and you’re continually putting yourself out there, that’s the best thing that you can do.”
Explore the MS in Entrepreneurship at the University of Washington Foster School of Business.