Meet Our Founder
Michaelene Dowers
Hello, friends!
Meet Michaelene, the face and mom behind Pollen.
Michaelene Dowers brings her experiences as a mother, plus considerable talents, education, and certifications to Pollen’s multi-faceted death care consultation and education services.
For death care professionals in need of guidance in helping children or in culturally or socially sensitive situations, Michaelene offers appropriate, impactful variations on decedent care.
Michaelene has taught at institutions of higher learning, served communities of color, and worked with clients in intercity and rural settings across a wide demographic range. Firms with whom Michaelene has been affiliated serve Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as agnostic and atheist clientele. She is also connected with and highly supportive of the LGBTQ community.
With nearly a decade of experience as a funeral director in numerous states across the country, Michaelene is experienced at navigating the many variations in funeral service law and protocol found throughout the United States. She currently holds certifications and/or licenses as a funeral director and embalmer in multiple states.
In 2023, Michaelene received her Fellow in Thanatology from ADEC and is now in a PhD program in Social Anthropology focusing on grief. Michaelene formerly worked as a professor at multiple mortuary colleges at both the associate and bachelors degree levels, as well as currently a visiting lecturer in funeral service at other colleges and end-of-life conferences nationwide.
Memberships & Certifications
Association for Death Education and Counseling:
Fellow Thanatologist
American Board of Funeral Service Practitioners:
Certified Funeral Service Practitioner
Board Member of:
National Home Funeral Alliance
Member of:
National Funeral Director Association (US)
Member of:
Fédération Internationale des Associations de Thanatologues – International Federation of Thanatologists Associations
Member of:
National Association of Funeral Directors (UK)
Member of:
Southern Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association
Education
Associate’s degree in mortuary science from Cypress College
B.A. in religious studies from Grand Canyon University
M.A. in emergency/crisis management from American Military University
M.A. in thanatology (study of death and dying, grief, loss and bereavement) from Marian University.
It is Michaelene’s hope that through Pollen, perspectives will be broadened and understanding achieved.
Her mission is to empower death care professionals with the tools they need to guide clients toward appropriate and deeply respectful services for their loved ones, paths toward peaceful closure in their grief journey, and the regaining of a sense of joy.