Midland College Names Elizabeth Shydlowski Executive Director of Midland College FoundationSeptember 01, 2026

Midland College has named Midland native Elizabeth Shydlowski as the new Executive Director of the Midland College Foundation. She returns home with more than two decades of experience in philanthropy, public policy, and government, and a career that includes securing transformative seven- and eight-figure gifts.

As Executive Director, Shydlowski will lead the Midland College Foundation’s fundraising and donor engagement efforts, working closely with the Foundation Board and College leadership to connect philanthropy with opportunities for Midland College students.

“Elizabeth has spent a career at the intersection of politics, policy, and fundraising and brings a genuine understanding of Midland and the people who make this community special,” said Dr. Damon Kennedy, Midland College President. “Elizabeth understands that philanthropy is ultimately about relationships and shared purpose. We are excited to welcome her home and have her lead the Midland College Foundation into this exciting future.”

For Shydlowski, the opportunity to lead the Midland College Foundation is also an opportunity to bring that experience back to the community that shaped her. Her approach to philanthropy is rooted in relationships and influenced by the Midland families and community leaders she grew up around.

“Midland has always been home, and I have a deep appreciation for the generosity and sense of responsibility to one another that defines this community,” Shydlowski said. “To return home and have the opportunity to serve Midland College is both a privilege and a responsibility I take very seriously. I look forward to listening, building on the relationships that have long supported the College and creating new opportunities for people to invest in the potential of our students. There is extraordinary generosity in Midland, and I am excited to help connect that generosity with opportunities that change students’ lives and, in turn, strengthen the community we all call home.”

A graduate of Texas Tech University, Shydlowski began her career in the Dallas and Washington, D.C., offices of U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. The experience helped shape her commitment to constituent-centered leadership and collaboration, principles that continued to guide her work as she transitioned into philanthropy.

Shydlowski went on to advise nonprofit organizations and philanthropists across the country. As an independent consultant working with family offices, she has helped cultivate significant gifts and build lasting relationships between donors and the organizations they support.

Among her career highlights, Shydlowski served as lead fundraising consultant for a partnership between Catholic Charities USA and the University of Notre Dame. Her work helped secure $3.2 million in seed funding to launch the Lab for Economic Opportunity, an initiative focused on identifying effective solutions to poverty.

Her commitment to service also led her to the Board of Directors of the Junior League of Chicago, where she received the organization’s Torch Award for leading a citywide community needs assessment.

The Midland College Foundation provides philanthropic support for the College and its students, helping expand access to education and advance initiatives that strengthen Midland and the Permian Basin.

Shydlowski’s return to Midland brings her career full circle and positions her to put decades of experience to work for the community that first shaped her. Through the Foundation, she will help connect the generosity of Midland’s philanthropic community with the students, programs, and opportunities that will shape the region’s future.