2024 20 in their Twenties: Shelby Thomas

Deputy Director for Drug Prevention, Treatment and Enforcement | Office of the Governor

Age: 27

Hometown: Franklin

Education: bachelor’s in multimedia journalism and public relations, Franklin College

Family: husband, Matt; dog, Hoosier

Years with organization: 4-1/2

First job: nutrition services aide at Johnson Memorial Hospital

Givebacks: member, Greenwood Community Redevelopment Block Grant Committee and Restore Old Town Greenwood Promotion Committee

Something surprising: “I never learned how to swim. And I married into a family of swimmers.” 

Coffee order: iced tea

Shelby Thomas said one of the best parts of her job as deputy director for drug prevention, treatment and enforcement is the variety. “I get to be involved in numerous projects and initiatives, which means I’m constantly learning, adapting and tackling new challenges.” Thomas is responsible for planning and executing the Indiana Mental Health and Addiction Conference, which involves coordinating with speakers, managing logistics and ensuring a seamless experience for attendees. Additionally, she helps oversee the distribution of Indiana’s share of national opioid settlement funds, ensuring that these resources are allocated effectively to address the drug epidemic. She also manages communications between state agencies and external partners involved in the response to the drug epidemic. Near the end of 2019, she was approached about a position as a communications coordinator for Gov. Eric Holcomb’s Next Level Recovery initiative. She took the job in January 2020, two months before the pandemic hit and her duties shifted to assisting the governor’s press team in producing a daily press briefing. In October 2020, she returned to her original role, focusing on response to the drug epidemic. In 2023, the state announced an 18% reduction in overdose deaths. “This achievement isn’t the result of any single person or organization but a testament to the collective efforts of the hundreds of individuals and organizations we are fortunate to call partners in this fight,” she said.•

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