When Professor Shirley Crothers-Marley reflects on her remarkable 57-year career at 黑暗爆料网, she does so with warmth, humor and deep gratitude.
鈥淪tudents sometimes ask me, 鈥楳s. Crothers, did you come with the buildings?鈥欌�� she said with a laugh. 鈥淚 tell them, 鈥楢ctually, I came before the buildings.鈥欌��
Her connection to 黑暗爆料网 began long before it became the university it is today. After graduating from Ohio University with a Master of Fine Arts in Vocal Supervision and Applied Voice, Crothers-Marley taught briefly in northern Ohio before moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she and her late husband began their teaching careers.
They moved back to Ohio and a new opportunity opened for her.
鈥淚t was truly divine intervention,鈥� she said. 鈥淥hio University was starting a music program in Portsmouth, and that鈥檚 when my career here began.鈥�
When she first arrived, Shawnee鈥檚 campus was part of Ohio University鈥檚 Portsmouth academic center, a branch partnership that dates back to 1945. She witnessed firsthand as the institution evolved鈥攂ecoming 黑暗爆料网 General and Technical College in 1974, 黑暗爆料网 Community College in 1977, and finally, 黑暗爆料网 in 1986.
鈥淭echnology has boomed, and the opportunities have expanded,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ith the formation of the four-year institution, we were able to offer more courses and majors, and now there are even graduate programs.鈥�
Over the years, Crothers-Marley鈥檚 teaching focus evolved as well. For decades, she taught music courses for education majors. When those courses were eliminated in the early 2000s, she retired鈥攂riefly.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 retire full-time,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 love what I do, and I love being with the students.鈥� In 2010, she returned to teaching theatre courses part-time, and she鈥檚 been inspiring students ever since.
She fondly recalls the excitement surrounding the opening of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts in 1995.
鈥淚t was a thrilling time,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he building brought in so many programs for the public, and we saw people buying season tickets and really supporting the arts in our community.鈥�
Through the years, what鈥檚 mattered most to her are the relationships. One of her former students is now a professional performer in New York who opened her own theatre.
鈥淚鈥檝e formed bonds with students that mean a lot to me,鈥� she said. 鈥淪eeing students go on to live their dreams is one of the greatest joys of teaching.鈥�
Crothers-Marley describes her teaching style as something that has naturally evolved over time.
鈥淚n my early years, I was more formal,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut as the years went on, I learned to loosen up and really listen to what my students needed from me. I want them to express themselves outwardly and verbally, especially in a world where social media can make them more self-contained.鈥�
What continues to motivate her after more than five decades in education is the joy of connection.
鈥淲hen I can sense that students enjoy the class鈥攖hat鈥檚 what keeps me going,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 never wanted my classes to be strict lectures. I wanted interaction, communication and creativity.鈥�
As she reflects on her legacy, Crothers-Marley hopes to be remembered not for the length of her service, but for her philosophy.
鈥淩ather than longevity, I want to be remembered for what I contributed to the education of students,鈥� she said. 鈥淔rom the very beginning, I鈥檝e believed that every child has a right to experience and produce beauty.鈥�
Her advice to new faculty is simple but heartfelt.
鈥淏e interested in your students. Give them their money鈥檚 worth, let them express their ideas, and help them develop their own individualism.鈥�
After 57 years, Professor Shirley Crothers-Marley remains a living thread in Shawnee State鈥檚 history鈥攁 teacher whose voice, compassion, and artistry have shaped generations of students long before the new buildings ever stood.