Career Counselor
Rowan University
Glassboro, New Jersey, United States
Shirley Farrar, MA, CCC, MA has extensive experience as a Career Planning & Development Counselor and an online instructor teaching career readiness. Her co-authored career-related research “Purposeful Career Planning: Transactional VS. Transformational Career Readiness” is published in the Summer 2024 National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Journal. Her professional and volunteer experiences span over eighteen years, including community advisory, instructor roles, professional podcast, advising married couples and individuals through a New Jersey 501c3 nonprofit organization.
Shirley holds a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration (2009) and a Master’s degree in Counseling in Educational Settings (2018), along with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She is a certified career counselor under the National Career Development Association (NCDA). With eight years of experience educating higher education students in career counseling, she has presented at four notable conferences, including the 2018 ACPA, 2023 NCDA, 2023 RNL, 2024 CCDA.
Shirley has increased community awareness of available career services, promoting cultural inclusion, access, and efficacy. At Rowan University, Shirley provides early intervention to diverse student bodies, such as ASCEND (EOF), CHAMP Gear-Up, Autism PATH Program, HCOP (pre-medical high school students), TBES (previously Graduate School of Biomedical Studies), and Acenda Integrated health (formally Robin’s Nest), to aid in their transition from college to the workforce. Shirley created the ©2017 ON THE SPOT higher education career services outreach campaign for Rowan University’s Office of Career Advancement, producing the First Annual Science Industry event, Speed Walk-In Career Counseling, “taking it to the streets resume tables”, and a 500 participant Annual OTS Barbecue, all resulting in increased student participation in career services, supported by IRB-approved research and data.
Her 2018 master’s research focused on ‘Career Services Awareness in Higher Education,’ and she published a master’s thesis in May 2009 on ‘Motivations for Participation in Adult Education of Predominantly African Americans in a Religious Organization.’
Shirley is married to a New Jersey native, and they have three successful adult sons. She values life balance, working within the higher education community, and contributing to her local and faith-based communities. Outside of work, Shirley serves as the director of the House Breach Restoration community project and as president of The Meeting House board of directors, a faith-based nonprofit organization.
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#OnTheSpot: Innovative Student-Focused Career Collaboration on Purpose for a Purpose
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
9:15 AM - 10:00 AM EDT