Shelley Armstrong

What do you consider your biggest success(es) in your life and career to be, thus far?

Career: Successfully completed my Ph.D. while teaching full-time and coaching two NCAA Division I Cross Country teams (all while recovering from a broken neck and back in 2005).

Life: Just celebrated my 5 year wedding anniversary to Brad Armstrong, who supported me through all the craziness of the above "career successes".

Thinking back, can you explain what made you decide to attend Centenary College?

I was recruited to play softball and run Cross Country. I had never heard of Centenary, but I wanted to play D1 softball and decided it was worth a visit. I loved the campus and the academic status. I knew it would be a different environment since I came from a high school with more students in my graduating class than at Centenary all together. But, I thought it might turn out to be a good fit for me, academically, athletically and socially.

Did you have any other family members that attended Centenary?

NO, but my best friend’s dad attended (Will Kizer).

How did Centenary prepare you for your career?

I completed a few internships during my undergraduate degree, all which helped me identify what I did NOT want to do after graduation. The experiences helped open my eyes to see that I wanted to help people stay healthy, not treat them after the fact. Cancer Prevention and control was my first job and I fell in love the field of health prevention and disease prevention. I also had Professors at Centenary that helped me identify my strengths and encouraged me to pursue graduate degrees and get into teaching.

What did you get out of the Centenary classroom experience?

The Centenary classroom experience taught me to be responsible and able to prioritize/manage my time. Also to be goal-oriented, but more focused on the journey of my education, not just the final destination.

What kind of opportunities did your education at Centenary provide you?

My undergraduate education at Centenary provided me with the opportunities to become a graduate-assistant for the Cross Country teams and receive my Master’s degree. I found my full-time position at the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center through Centenary’s Career Center. My contacts at Centenary also provided me with the opportunities to interview for the Head Coach position and Lecturer in the Health & Exercise Science department.

Did Centenary provide you with opportunities that your colleagues did not have?

The personal attention from my major professors allowed me outstanding mentors who really helped guide and direct my career path.

How has Centenary prepared you for your future endeavors?

My current position at Centenary has allowed me to engage in health studies research, publish and present at state and national levels, and become active in the Shreveport/Bossier community directing a youth running/fitness program. I hope to continue and expand on all of this in the future.

What was your experience at Centenary like and what did you take away from it?

My experience at Centenary was: study hard, train hard, party hard. I took away the study and train hard aspects; less party and more sleep now. I believe that the Centenary experience is different for each person – I think that is what makes Centenary unique. What made my experience at Centenary (as a student) was a superb education, an advisor who went overboard to help me assess my strengths and reach my goals, being a Division I student-athlete, the intrinsic impact of community service, traveling via module, friendships that last a lifetime, and just having a good time.

How have you been/were you inspired by your professors at Centenary?

I was and continue to be inspired by many of them.

Do you have any fond memories of your professors/what do you remember most about your professors?

I had a bad breakup with a boyfriend and my advisor, Dr. Bedard, saw my classroom performance slipping and he called me into his office and told me not to ruin my GPA over "some slug." He said I’d look back and laugh about the experience and he was right, I do.

As you reflect on your time at Centenary, what were your fondest memories?

My fondest memories are:

• Climbing up an old billboard that used to be in center field of the baseball stadium, and having picnics and harassing the outfielders with my girlfriends during games.
• Having to open the back door of James (which would set off the fire alarm) to sneak friends inside who were past curfew (our coach lived in the front of James).
• Attending Atlanta Braves games and Nascar races on road trips with the softball teams.
• Superior’s salsa for snack breaks.

What would you tell a student deciding between Centenary College and another school as to why they should attend Centenary?

I tell them to attend for the student-teacher ratio and that they will be able to have a more interactive role with their Professor and other students. Also, the campus community will support them as they compete at the highest levels of competition, whether it is sports-related, performance-related (choir/theater), or honors research projects. Each person at Centenary has the ability to create their own distinctive experience through various options of campus and/or community involvement. But as a whole, the Centenary experience revolves mostly around the first-rate education and personal advising.

What life lessons did you learn while at Centenary?

Don’t feed drama.

What did you do after graduation?

I worked full-time for the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center as a Clinical Research Associate, was the graduate assistant (GA) for the Centenary Cross Country teams, and completed my M.A.T. I also ran many marathons, including Boston, and competed in triathlons.

What career path did you take after graduation from Centenary?

I worked for a Cancer Prevention program at LSUHSC-S called Partners in Wellness. Then in 2004, I came on full-time at Centenary as a Lecturer and Head Coach of the Cross Country teams. I finished my Ph.D. in 2007, and was promoted to Asst. Professor in 2008.

Was there a benefit in attending a small, Liberal Arts College versus a larger institution?

I graduated Centenary with a job, acceptance into graduate school, and a GA position. Many of my friends who attended larger institutions are still looking for guidance and direction in their careers. I had that from my advisor and still contact him for advice.

What does the future hold?

Does anyone know?