College of Behavioral & Social Sciences

Behavioral and Social Sciences Distinguished Alumni

2002 Distinguished Alumni

Shirley Rush

BA Sociology, Class of 1986
BS Psychology, Class of 1986

Honor Year: 2002

Shirley Rush, MSW, LCSW, started her personal journey to a career in social work as a single-parent re-entry student at CSU, Chico in 1981. Rush surpassed her educational goals for herself by earning a master of social work degree. She developed her own social work field placement in Managua, Nicaragua. Rush served as the Co-director of Davis Community Clinic and Program Director of Counseling Services before relocating to Maine. Rush joined the faculty of the University of Maine, Presque Isle (UMPI) in 1998, and teaches Human Behavior, Practice, Policy, Ethnicity, Community Mental Health Care, and Incest/Sexual Abuse. In 2012 UMPI awarded her the President's Leadership Award and the Student Senate Distinguished Teaching Award. Rush remains active and supports student learning opportunities outside the classroom and internationally. In 2013 Rush went on a seven-month Trustee Professional Sabbatical in Tanzania