Shelby was born and raised here in Bakersfield, attending North High School. She has always dreamt of working in a field where she can help others, which she initially believed was the medical field.
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She quickly realized while attending University of California, Santa Barbara, that her natural bent towards social justice would take her far in a different field. Shelby graduated from UCSB in 2021 with her Bachelor's in Sociology, and in May 2024, she received her Master's in Social Work from Cal State Bakersfield. She is so grateful to be a part of this fast-growing, passionate, hard-working team, who have chosen to dedicate their time and energy towards changing the way children, youth, and families experience foster care here in Kern County.

Shelby has a deep passion for loving every single human no matter their circumstances, and she brings this big heart into her work every day. In her current role as Program Development Director, Shelby is committed to diving deeper and building a space where every single child, youth, and caregiver feels seen and supported throughout their foster care journey.

Shelby recently married her long-time partner, Marcus, who frequently shows up behind the scenes to help with event set up!

‘Wherever life plants you, bloom with grace.’ -French Proverb