Meet Shelbie!

Shelbie is attacked by mosquitoes on Murphy Dome.
Shelbie is attacked by mosquitoes on Murphy Dome.


Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I was born and raised in Interior Alaska, am a graduate of North Pole High School and received my graduate degree from UAF in 2005. I have worked at UAF since 2008, first in enrollment management and public information at the College of Liberal Arts, and now as the undergraduate advisor and admissions outreach coordinator for SOM. I have experience working in a management consulting firm, in operations and marketing for a custom commercial food processing facility, and as both an administrator and an assistant guide for a big game guiding service.

In my spare time I enjoy getting out and enjoying Alaska as much as possible.  This includes hiking, camping, skiing, sledding, traveling, attempting to successfully grow tomatoes in the summer and spending quality time with family. I love to swim and I take WAY to many pictures of just about everything. I like to read and daydreaming is my favorite pastime.



 

Shelbie and her son, Aiden, fish south of Fairbanks in the Alaska Range.
Shelbie and her son, Aiden, fish south of Fairbanks in the Alaska Range.


If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I love to travel and there are SO MANY places I plan to visit. One place I would like to go that is not currently on my “active planning” list is Europe. I am of European decent and my ancestors came to this continent in the mid-1700s to early 1800s. I would love to go to Europe and visit all the places my family came from. This would be very expensive and would involve traveling to several countries - I’m saving this trip for when I strike it rich. J

 What do you like about working with students?
I like working with students because I love to help people and the diverse UAF student body is so interesting. I learn new things about my community all the time from conversations with students. I think education is a privilege not everyone has the opportunity to pursue, and navigating the university system can be very confusing. I feel honored to have the opportunity to play a small part in helping students realize the dream of their college degrees.

Shelbie on a Granite Tors hiking trip.
Shelbie on a Granite Tors hiking trip.


If you could time travel, what useful advice would you give your college self?
What a question! I am stubborn and hard-headed and I was even more so in my younger days. If I would have listened, I would tell myself to slow down and enjoy every minute of it. I think this is good advice in general: enjoy every minute of your life.