Elizabeth (Liz) Shelby

Elizabeth (Liz) Shelby

Elizabeth (Liz) Shelby is an experienced public higher education administrator and small business counselor. Before retiring after 25 years of service to Southern Oregon University, she was the chief of staff to three university presidents and she served six presidents as the university’s director of government relations. During her time as director of government Relations, Liz was involved with several significant transformations at SOU including the name change from Southern Oregon State College in 1997, and the change in governance to a public institution with an independent governing Board of Trustees in 2015.

Prior to working in the president’s office, Liz was the director of the School of Business’ Small Business Development Center for 16 years. As the director, she specialized in assisting local entrepreneurs with business plans and worked with existing business owners to develop strategies to increase profitability. She initiated local programs to help Latinx and women entrepreneurs with business start-ups and government contracting opportunities.

A two-time alum, Ms. Shelby graduated from SOU in 1991 with a bachelor of science degree in business and an MBA in 1993. Among her awards, Ms. Shelby earned membership in the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi for professional achievement, and received the Northwest Credit Union Association’s Oregon Advocate of the Year award.

In retirement, she continues to be an active volunteer in the community. She is the board chair for the Resolve Center for Dispute Resolution and Restorative Justice and is the vice president of the JPR Foundation Board. Liz previously served fourteen years as a board member of Rogue Credit Union.

Liz was born in Sacramento, California, and has lived in southern Oregon for nearly 40 years. When not working on a volunteer project, Liz enjoys gardening, reading mysteries, and vacation road trips. She and her husband, Stephen Terry, live in Medford.