Shelley began her career in higher education as a leadership consultant for Alpha Phi International Fraternity, before obtaining her Master’s Degree in Higher Education from the University of Denver. In 1972, she became the Sorority Advisor at Indiana State University and a year later, she became the first woman in the world to advise fraternities. While at ISU and as the fraternity advisor, she was invited to a new fraternity men’s leadership conference that had around 100 male attendees and Shelley.  She was the first and only female to attend and left the conference with a leadership position in the new organization that continued for many years. She also left resolved to start a similar conference for women.

By 1979 Shelley, Barb Robel and some other campus sorority advisors started the women’s version of the same conference. At first the two conferences were separate, but shared the same hotel, many of the speakers and most of the banquet events.  It took a few years for the two conferences to merge.  Shelley and Barb worked extremely hard over the years to develop and grow the conference.  Today, that conference is one of the foremost leadership conferences in the nation and has over 4000 attendees each year.

While at ISU Shelley was instrumental in the creation of a professional development association for campus administrators, the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors which began in 1976.  She was the first person to pay dues to the association, was an officer, director, editor, conference meeting planner and served as president in 1983.

In 1988, Shelley moved to the University of Oregon, where she continued to play a national role in the development of the fraternity and sorority movement.  When she retired from the University of Oregon the students established an endowed student leadership award in her name.  The Shelley Sutherland Scholarship awards $1,000 to Greek leaders who exemplify the values of scholarship, leadership and service at the University.

In 1991, she and fellow professional, Barb Robel, the fraternity and sorority campus advisor for Kansas State University began discussing one of their best campus resources – house directors - and the key role they played in the life and success of fraternity and sorority students.  Recognizing their importance and seeing a need for education, professionalism and community, she and Barb developed the House Director Association.  Shelley is extremely proud of starting the House Directors Conference that has been conducted annually for 30 years.  The House Director Conference has become the premiere professional development opportunity for men and women all over the nation who have made being a House Director their career. 

Shelley has been recognized, over the years by several national and regional fraternities, sororities and organizations including the Association of Fraternity and Sororities Advisors highest recognition, The Shaeffer Award.  The Associations national recognition of the Outstanding Volunteer Award, given annually, is named in Shelley’s honor.

Shelley is enjoying retirement in her adopted home of El Paso, Texas.  She is currently serving as Vice-Chair of the El Paso County Historical Commission and is an active volunteer and holds leadership positions in several history-related organizations.  She continues to volunteer and advise Greek professionals and consults for Greek-related organizations.  She enjoys sharing adventures with her three wonderful daughters, son-in-law and grandson.