Some call him a national treasure; others say he’s a rock star and a legend. Most call him Shep.
For nearly half a century, F. Shepperd Shanley has been introducing Northwestern to prospective students around the globe. And honestly, he says, in 49 years the job hasn’t changed much. It’s still all about making connections — and by all accounts, that’s what Shanley does best.
“Everybody is an instant friend,” says Chris Watson, Northwestern’s dean of undergraduate enrollment.
Shanley’s colleagues and friends describe him in glowing terms: thoughtful, loyal, charming and whip smart, animated, intellectually curious and always upbeat. “It’s almost infectious, this love of life that Shep has,” says Del Crandall ’84, a longtime friend who met Shanley in 1980.
Carol Lunkenheimer, the former dean for undergraduate admission who retired in 2007, appreciated his calming presence, especially on days when she had to deal with disappointed parents.
“He isn’t your typical ‘road runner,’ as we used to call ourselves in admissions,” says longtime friend Rebecca Dixon, the former associate provost for university enrollment. “He has a fount of knowledge and an elephantine memory. Shep was always viewed as an honest reflection of the University.”
“There just aren’t many like him anymore,” Watson adds, “and that’s a shame.”
Shanley, a senior associate director of admission, will retire at the end of June. The son of former faculty members J. Lyndon and Barbara Smith Shanley ’37 MA/MS, Shanley started working in admission at Northwestern in January 1971, after earning degrees at Princeton and Harvard and teaching Advanced Placement U.S. history and European history at three East Coast boarding schools.
During his tenure at Northwestern, Shanley pioneered global recruiting trips. When he went on his first overseas trip for the University in 1980, there were 14 international students in the entering class. Last year’s incoming class included more than 225 international students, accounting for 11% of the class.
Dixon says Shanley, a Francophile, was the right man for the job. In the 1980s, “Northwestern was on the cusp of becoming a real phenomenon, competing with the Ivies and Stanford and Duke,” she says. “Having international students adds to your cache, but it also broadens the horizons of the non-international students at the University. Shep was the perfect person to go, particularly to European schools and eventually Asian schools. He’s dignified, knowledgeable, kind of a man of the world, and I think that came across internationally.”
For 15 years Shanley directed the Alumni Admission Council, connecting Northwestern alumni with prospective students. Membership in the AAC grew under his watch, as did the number of interviews that alumni conducted with prospective students.
“I was able to provide a way for alumni to use their enthusiasm for Northwestern,” Shanley says. “This was a help to what we do, a help to the students who had an opportunity to contact someone locally, and a help to the AAC members who felt they were engaged in doing something that was all good.”
Since 1976 Shanley has served as a faculty fellow at Willard Residential College, “a place where I’ve made some friends forever,” he says. He sometimes invited his father, then a professor emeritus of English — and namesake of Shanley Hall — to do humorous poetry readings.
Shanley's involvement at Willard, including six years as master, “was a way to connect with a group of undergraduates early on,” Shanley explains. “I could be with them as their experience grew and talk to them about it — not be an adviser or a counselor, but just kind of a friend. It meant a lot to me to be part of student life after admissions had done its work, and to know people who were here.”
Crandall, “a committed Willardite,” met Shanley as a first-year student. Shanley spent a lot of time with students at Willard lunches, dinners and faculty-student social events. One thing in particular impressed Crandall: Shanley listens.
“Shep was not judgmental, and you could share something about yourself or your plans and know that you had a good sounding board,” recalls Crandall. “He really wanted to learn what we were interested in and what we wanted to do with our lives and how he could help us with some of that.”
Crandall met his wife, Barbara Puckett Crandall ’84, at Northwestern, and they sent their three sons — William ’14, Andrew ’16 and Edward, a rising senior — to the University. When each of their sons were considering schools, they’d go visit Northwestern for a tour and a meeting with Shanley.
“He always wanted to talk directly with my sons,” says Crandall, the deputy judge advocate general for the U.S. Navy. “It was about their choice of a university and what was going to be best for their futures.”
When Edward was wait-listed at Northwestern, it was Shanley who called him to deliver the news that he’d finally been accepted. “That was really appropriate,” Crandall says, “because that’s what it’s about — the student working with the staff and learning to become an adult and to guide his own life.”
Shanley says the connections that he’s made with students, alumni and school counselors around the world have meant the most to him. And don’t expect the anything-but-retiring Shanley to disappear from Northwestern. He plans to stay involved in the life of the University and hopes to sing in a chorus.
“This has been a wonderful experience, a great run,” he says. “The wind has been at Northwestern’s back. It’s been a very good place to be because it was always moving forward. That’s hard to beat.”
Reader Responses
When I worked summers in admissions during the 1970s interviewing prospective Northwestern students, Shep Shanley was a welcoming and insightful presence. His mantra was student acceptance was more than numbers on an application. He had a zeal for university activities as well as life's education outside of academia. He also taught me a few things about appropriate work attire. Truly a pillar of Northwestern.
—Ted Larson '77, Centennial, Colo., via Northwestern Magazine
What’s also worth mentioning is the wonderful professional friendships he made over his many years among other college admissions folks and high school guidance folks. I’m delighted to be in his cheering section.
—James Minter, former director of international admissions, Columbia University New York City, via Northwestern Magazine
I absolutely love Shep, having worked with him as a member of the Los Angeles AAC and then, for 20 years, as a regional rep for Northwestern. He's truly one of a kind — brilliant, funny and immensely caring. When, as a rep, I would go to do interviews at several key boarding schools in Southern California, where Shep had visited before, I encountered a lot of students who were applying to Northwestern because of Shep. They were so delighted and impressed with his knowledge and also his manner. One student told me: "I never really thought of Northwestern before, but if Shep is representative of the school, it's my first choice!" And, yes, that student turned down Yale to enroll at Northwestern!
I also remember a hotel presentation when a prospective student asked him to talk about the bathrooms at Northwestern! Shep went into a hilarious but also very knowledgeable riff about the bathrooms of NU. The crowd was captivated! I also have many wonderful memories of his warm friendship and support. I wish him good health and great adventures in this new phase of his life!
—Kathy McCoy '67, Florence, Ariz., via Northwestern Magazine
Wonderful memories of the Shanleys growing up across the street from them, starting in the '50s. Mr.Shanley and my father in law, Morrison Waud, were suitemates at Princeton. I was always loved when Molly and Shep would come across the street and talk to us. Love your family!
—Tracey Wade Waud Lake Forest, Ill., via Northwestern Magazine
As a former director of the St. Louis Alumni Admission Council and member at Sheil, I have had the privilege of working with Shep for a number of years. It was always a joy to spend time with him. It was quite a treat to bring our niece's son to NU on a visit and have him meet Shep, given that Shep had interviewed her when she applied to NU.
What a wonderful career and what an amazing contribution to what makes NU special.
—Michael Abbene '70, Chesterfield, Mo.
My husband, Michael S. Fedotin '64, and I both graduated from Northwestern, and our older son, Brian '98 JD, attended the law school, while our younger son, Jeffrey '01, '05 MS, completed both undergraduate work and received his MS in journalism at Northwestern. We joke that we bleed purple.
As proud alums, my husband and I both served on the ACC and met Shep through that volunteer commitment. We were extremely impressed by his enthusiasm and helpfulness — definitely a man to be commended!
—Ruth Sneid Fedotin '66, Leawood, Kan., via Northwestern Magazine
I remember Shep fondly, and I didn't even live in Willard! I lived in Shepard (which, given his name, is where he should have been master) but remember him from my visits to Willard. Best of luck with your new retirement gig!
—Daria Labinsky '84, Atlanta, via Northwestern Magazine
Shep Shanley interviewed me in Manhattan in 1971, his inaugural year in admissions. I remember he made me feel like Northwestern was the place for me. Back then nobody visited colleges very much, so going some place sight unseen was fairly common.
I was beyond thrilled with being admitted for fall of '71 and graduated in '75. I worked for his dad, Dean Shanley (as I always addressed him), at Rebecca Crown as a junior and senior. I met my husband at NU. We even prepped for our church ceremony at the senior Shanley's home on Lincoln. We go way back with this wonderful NU family.
I want to wish Shep the very best in retirement and thank him for all he has done for countless Cats!!
—Elisabeth LeBris '75, Winnetka, Ill., via Northwestern Magazine
I met Shep Shanley when I applied to NU in 1973. He interviewed me for admittance, and I guess I passed the test, having graduated in 1978. I remember him as kind and approachable. Please give him my best wishes for a fulfilling retirement.
—Debbie Roxin Waltzer '78, Pittsford, N.Y., via Northwestern Magazine
I worked with Shep at Northwestern for a relatively brief time. I did not smoke, but he always invited me outside while he got his nicotine fix. I always said yes.
We had many thoughtful, lovely, endearing conversations, and I learned so much.
That first May, this Southern girl was standing there, freezing in her coat in the wind. The poor daffodils were barely up and looked as though they wanted to dive back under the bits of snow still scattering the ground. I looked at Shep and said, “This is a poor excuse for May.” Shep looked at me with his memorable, wry look and said, “Well, no one moves to Paris for the weather.” Now that I live in the Northwest, I use that line ALL THE TIME. And smile thinking of Shep. Every time.
Dear friend, stay well and enjoy your next adventure.
—Kimberly Crouch Portland, Ore., via Northwestern Magazine
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