Senator Michelee "Shelly" Cruz-Crawford is a Democratic member of the Nevada State Senate representing District 1 . Born in 1983 in Tucson, Arizona, and raised in Las Vegas, she is a first-generation high school and college graduate of 100% Mexican heritage. She assumed office on November 6, 2024, succeeding term-limited Sen. Pat Spearman, after winning the Democratic primary and general election . As a freshman senator, she chairs the Committee on Natural Resources, serves on Education, Revenue and Economic Development, and Health and Wellness committees. Notable achievements include authoring SB352 , co-presenting SB428 , and assisting with the $65 billion Federal Recovery Broadband Act for student internet access. She serves as a school principal, equal opportunity officer and public affairs officer in the Nevada Air National Guard , and was previously Nevada's first Latino Board of Regents member . Her advocacy focuses on education reform, affordable housing, accessible healthcare, and equity for underrepresented communities; she was named the Public Education Foundation’s 24th Annual Education Hero.

Education and Political Experience

Education

• College of Southern Nevada High School , 2000
• UNLV B.S. in Psychology, 2004
• UNLV M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, 2010
• Sierra Nevada College Endorsements: Instructional Leadership and Teaching English as a Second Language, 2013
• University of Phoenix Endorsement: Educational Literacy, 2016
• Georgetown University Certificate in Educational Leadership, 2021
• U.S. Air Force Officer Training School, 2021
• U.S. Air Force Initial Force Support Officer School, 2024
• William Howard Taft University Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership and Policy, 2023

Political Experience

• Nevada State Senate, District 1, 2024–present
• Nevada Board of Regents, District 8
• Over 20 years in education: teacher , principal at C.C. Ronnow Elementary School
• U.S. Air Force Nevada National Guard: Public Affairs Officer , Equal Opportunity Officer
• Volunteer roles: Nevada Department of Education Principal Advisory Committee, Nevada National Guard Diversity/Equity/Inclusion Task Force , Nevada Association of School Administrators , Nevada Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents , local School Organizational Team

Spouse: Michael Crawford. Children: Lola and Gustavo "Goose". Recreation: Reading and family time.