Dowd holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan and a M.S.S.W. from the University of Texas where she worked as a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant. Her master’s thesis was titled “Alcoholism, PTSD, and the Vietnam Veteran.” She has worked in Employee Assistance Programs and inpatient and outpatient treatment settings. Dowd has been involved in community outreach, public speaking, and providing clinical services to patients. She has been active in the 12-step community in Texas, Alabama, and the Gulf Coast Region. She is regularly asked to speak at workshops, conferences, and A.A. meetings on topics such as relapse, family recovery, and making amends. Dowd recently has been published in Grapevine Magazine and is a regular on podcasts that address addiction and recovery.