Shiree Shirley grew up in Sugar City, Idaho, and has always enjoyed the beauty of Idaho's nature.
She first attended BYU-Idaho when it was called Rick’s College back in 1990 and graduated with a degree in elementary education in 1993.
Shirley began her professional career at BYU-I in the Event Services Department for six years. After graduating, she began applying for more positions available on campus geared toward her degree. Later down the road, she worked in public schools using her family and educational degree to assist minors and families as a counselor. She interned as a counselor in a counseling office at a local high school.
Through the internship, she determined that advising was her passion and a chance to make a difference.
“Students should always have to do an internship because it opens so many opportunities, doors and ideas,” Shirley said.
Growing up, Shirley always wanted to be a mom, and that’s what she did. Shirley had four kids in the span of six years. As she raised her children, she came to the realization that she wanted to stay busy and continue to work with young adults. She went back to school at BYU-I in 2014 and worked hard to stay active in her children’s lives by attending their sports and extracurricular activities.
“I remember doing my homework in many basketball gyms and soccer fields and track meats and having my laptop like, 'OK, what the heck am I doing?'" Shirley said. "But you know, there's never an easy time. So now I tell my kids to go to school. Now you're young. You think it's hard, but it's so much harder if you wait till you're my age."
She graduated in 2018 with a degree in marriage and family. One thing she truly realized while attending BYU-Idaho while walking across the stage was that knowledge is the one thing she will truly take with her as she moves past college. Knowledge is the most important element that we will gain and obtain throughout our academic journey.
She has worked at BYU-I for 10 years in academic advising which has provided an opportunity to include her many talents of communication, organization and listening skills through mentoring students.
“Mentoring students is helping them with school, but really, you’re helping them with life," Shirley said. "I feel at this stage in their lives it is crucial to be that support person for them. It truly is rewarding to be an advisor.”
Shirley expressed how BYU-I is a very special place that students can afford and where the professors get to know each student because of the small class sizes.