Shirley C. Raines is an American public speaker, author and leadership consultant who retired from academia after serving as president of the

University of Memphis The University of Memphis (Memphis) is a public university, public research university in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1912, the university has an enrollment of more than 20,000 students. The university maintains the Herff Col ...

from 2001 to 2013. Before entering administration she was a professor of education, specializing in early childhood.

Early life

Raines was born April 15, 1945, in

Jackson, Tennessee Jackson is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Tennessee, United States. Located east of Memphis, Tennessee, Memphis and 130 Miles Southwest of Nashville, it is a regional center of trade for West Tennessee. Its total population wa ...

, and grew up on a cotton farm near Bells. She completed her undergraduate education at UT Martin, studying child development, and then worked as a kindergarten teacher for several years.From cotton picker to college president, Shirley Raines to speak Thursday
''Oak Ridger'', April 29, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2017. She later undertook further studies at

UT Knoxville The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (or The University of Tennessee; UT; UT Knoxville; or colloquially UTK or Tennessee) is a public land-grant research university in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1794, two years before Te ...

, graduating with an

M.Sc. A Master of Science (; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree. In contrast to the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Science degree is typically granted for studies in sciences, engineering and medicine ...

in child development and later a D.Ed. in elementary and early education.A New Reign
''The University of Memphis Magazine'', Spring 2001. Retrieved November 27, 2017.

Academia

Before entering administration, Raines taught for periods at the

University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, the Capstone, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of ...

;

North Carolina Wesleyan College North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) is a private Methodist university in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. It was founded in 1956. North Carolina Wesleyan offers courses at its main Rocky Mount campus, as well as satellite locations in Brunswick ...

;

Northeastern State University Northeastern State University (NSU) is a public university with its main campus in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The university also has two other campuses in Muskogee and Broken Arrow as well as online. Northeastern is the oldest institution of hig ...

, Oklahoma;

George Mason University George Mason University (GMU) is a Public university, public research university in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Located in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., the university is named in honor of George Mason, a Founding Father ...

, Virginia; and the

University of South Florida The University of South Florida (USF) is a Public university, public research university with its main campus located in Tampa, Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States, and other campuses in St. Petersburg, Florida, St. Petersburg and Sarasota, ...

. In 1995, she was appointed dean of education at the

University of Kentucky The University of Kentucky (UK, UKY, or U of K) is a Public University, public Land-grant University, land-grant research university in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. Founded in 1865 by John Bryan Bowman as the Agricultural and Mechanical ...

; she was additionally made vice-president for academic affairs three years later. She served as president of the

Association for Childhood Education International Childhood Education International (formerly, Association for Childhood Education International; International Kindergarten Union), a nonprofit organization with membership, is a global community of educators and advocates who advocate for desir ...

from 1999 to 2001. In January 2001, the board of regents of the University of Memphis elected Raines as the successor to President V. Lane Rawlins – the first woman to hold the position.Dr. Raines Named 11th President of the University of Memphis
University of Memphis, February 2001. Retrieved November 27, 2017. Her term began on July 1, 2001, and continued until her retirement on June 30, 2013.Dr. Shirley Raines to Retire from U of M
WREG, April 15, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2017. As president, Raines oversaw the acquisition of

Lambuth University Lambuth University was a private Methodist university in Jackson, Tennessee. It was active from 1843 to 2011 and was supported by the Memphis Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. The university began as the Memphis Conference Fema ...

, the establishment of the University of Memphis Research Foundation and the Memphis Research Consortium, and the construction of a number of new buildings. She was inducted into the Tennessee Women's Hall of Fame in 2013, and retired to

Oak Ridge, Tennessee Oak Ridge is a city in Anderson County, Tennessee, Anderson and Roane County, Tennessee, Roane counties in the East Tennessee, eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, about west of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, Knoxville. Oak Ridge's po ...

, where she works as a motivational speaker and leadership consultant.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raines, Shirley 1945 births Living people George Mason University faculty North Carolina Wesleyan University faculty Northeastern State University faculty University of Alabama faculty University of Kentucky faculty University of South Florida faculty University of Tennessee alumni University of Tennessee at Martin alumni Heads of universities and colleges in the United States Women heads of universities and colleges People from Jackson, Tennessee People from Crockett County, Tennessee 20th-century American women academics 20th-century American academics

Early life

Academia

See also

References