Meet Your Advisor: Brenda Shupe

by Claire Oldham

August 7, 2015

For almost two years, Brenda Shupe has been a TTUISD Senior Academic Advisor, working with students with last names starting with A-G. With her background in counseling and public education, Brenda has found advising to be the perfect job for her.

After attending high school in Fredericksburg, Texas, Brenda went to Angelo State University to get her bachelor's degree. She then went on to receive her master's degree from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Brenda taught school for 31 years before retiring and working for Wayland Baptist University as both a financial aid advisor and an academic advisor for education students.

Since starting with TTUISD, Brenda has found that her favorite part of working as an advisor has been helping students reach their goals and find what works best for them.

“It's interesting to visit with students and talk to their parents and see why they've chosen this route to complete their education,” she said.

According to Cari Moye, TTUISD Assistant Principal, Brenda has a gift for paying attention to detail.

“She is going to make sure that every base is covered,” Cari said. “Nothing is going to go untouched when it comes to her students. She really looks at everything thoroughly, she's not going to miss a beat.”

In Brenda's opinion, online education is the wave of the future and is becoming more of an alternative to brick and mortar schools.

“Kids are just involved in so many outside activities that for some, a brick and mortar school just doesn't work if they're pursuing their dreams already, whether it's music, acting or dance,” she said.

Brenda has discovered that the most important part of her job is getting to know the students and what they want to get out of their education. She enjoys using her degree in counseling to help them through any situation.

“I try to be available to parents and students,” she said. “Readily available, as much as I can.”

Brenda's husband Rick also works here at Texas Tech. They have two sons and three grandchildren. In her free time, Brenda likes to play golf, work in her garden and decorate.