Melanie Lowry is in her seventh year as the head coach of the dance team and enters her third year as the head coach of the cheer team. Prior to joining the Islanders’ staff, Lowry attended Sam Houston State for a year before transferring to Texas A&M – Corpus Christi. Lowry was a dance major at Sam Houston State before joining the Islanders dance team.

Under Lowry’s instruction, the Islanders dance team clinched the 2012 ADTS Collegiate National Championship. The Islanders have qualified for the UDA Nationals six consecutive years and has competed at ADTS Nationals for the last three years. The Islanders placed sixth in their first competition and placed third in 2011 behind Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin. In 2011, the Islanders also competed at the Showtime International Collegiate Championships and clinched the Grand National Championship. In July of 2011, the dance team earned the top spot at the Division I Home Routine Competition at the UDA Collegiate Camp at Texas State.

The Islanders cheer team has improved under Lowry. Most recently, the team beat the University of Oklahoma in the Sideline Competition at UCA Collegiate Camp at Texas State to secure first place. They also placed fifth in the traditional fight song competition.  

Lowry is a native of Portland, Texas and has two children, Austin and Aaron.