November 24, 2025
When Professor Shirley Crothers-Marley reflects on her remarkable 57-year career at Shawnee State University, she does so with warmth, humor and deep gratitude.
“Students sometimes ask me, ‘Ms. Crothers, did you come with the buildings?’” she said with a laugh. “I tell them, ‘Actually, I came before the buildings.’”
Her connection to Shawnee State 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.
“It was truly divine intervention,” she said. “Ohio University was starting a music program in Portsmouth, and that’s when my career here began.”
When she first arrived, Shawnee’s campus was part of Ohio University’s Portsmouth academic center, a branch partnership that dates back to 1945. She witnessed firsthand as the institution evolved—becoming Shawnee State General and Technical College in 1974, Shawnee State Community College in 1977, and finally, Shawnee State University in 1986.
“Technology has boomed, and the opportunities have expanded,” she said. “With the formation of the four-year institution, we were able to offer more courses and majors, and now there are even graduate programs.”
Over the years, Crothers-Marley’s 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—briefly.
“I couldn’t retire full-time,” she said. “I love what I do, and I love being with the students.” In 2010, she returned to teaching theatre courses part-time, and she’s been inspiring students ever since.
She fondly recalls the excitement surrounding the opening of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts in 1995.
“It was a thrilling time,” she said. “The building brought in so many programs for the public, and we saw people buying season tickets and really supporting the arts in our community.”
Through the years, what’s 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.
“I’ve formed bonds with students that mean a lot to me,” she said. “Seeing students go on to live their dreams is one of the greatest joys of teaching.”
Crothers-Marley describes her teaching style as something that has naturally evolved over time.
“In my early years, I was more formal,” she said. “But 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.”
What continues to motivate her after more than five decades in education is the joy of connection.
“When I can sense that students enjoy the class—that’s what keeps me going,” she said. “I never wanted my classes to be strict lectures. I wanted interaction, communication and creativity.”
As she reflects on her legacy, Crothers-Marley hopes to be remembered not for the length of her service, but for her philosophy.
“Rather than longevity, I want to be remembered for what I contributed to the education of students,” she said. “From the very beginning, I’ve believed that every child has a right to experience and produce beauty.”
Her advice to new faculty is simple but heartfelt.
“Be interested in your students. Give them their money’s worth, let them express their ideas, and help them develop their own individualism.”
After 57 years, Professor Shirley Crothers-Marley remains a living thread in Shawnee State’s history—a teacher whose voice, compassion, and artistry have shaped generations of students long before the new buildings ever stood.