Awards

Bicentennial Medal - 2019

About Janet Shirley

Janet C. Shirley is an IU alumnus and former Secretary of the IU Board of Trustees. Shirley earned a BA in English from IU Bloomington, an MS in Education and a MA in Personality Theory Religion from Butler University. Shirley served as the Secretary of the Board of Trustees from 1988 to 1990.

During her undergraduate career at IU Bloomington, Shirley was a cheerleader and an active member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority, the IU Student Foundation, Pleiades, and the Panhellenic Association. After graduation, Shirley worked at the IU Foundation for nine years, first serving as an assistant to the IUF president (1978-1982), administrative assistant for a major foundation campaign (1982-1984), and then the campaign's associate director (1984-1987). She joined the IUAA Alumni Affairs Office as director of administration, during which time she also served as the Secretary of the Board of Trustees. From 1990 to 1993 she worked as director of alumni relations at IUPUI, where she conducted a year-long alumni planning forum, organized and implemented the IUPUI Alumni Association, founded and directed the Good Friends Volunteer Program, and organized the IUPUI Letterman's Club.

Shirley received the Community Service Award from the Governor's Volunteer Action Program. From 1994 to 1999, she served as associate executive director of the IUAA, and her book, The Indiana University Alumni Association: One Hundred and Fifty Years, 1854-2004, was published in 2004.

Shirley received the IU Bicentennial Medal in September 2019 in recognition of her distinguished service as the Secretary of the IU Board of Trustees.