Mrs. Shafer graduated with a B.S. in 2007 in Human Development and Family Studies and a M.A. in Nonprofit Management in 2009 from Texas Tech University. While pursuing her graduate degree, she served as a program coordinator and office manager at the Volunteer Center of Lubbock. After completing her degree, she moved to Houston and began working at ESCAPE Family Resource Center, responsible for the program support team and the volunteer program. She then worked at Memorial Assistance Ministries where she was responsible for the volunteer program, community relations, and fundraising events.

She joined the Rice Annual Fund team in 2012, working with the 35^th, 40^th, and 45^th Reunion Giving Campaigns and overseeing the Class Management team. After 5 ½ years, she moved into a director of development role working with Rice's most philanthropic supporters in Central Texas, while also supporting fundraising priorities for the Dean of Undergraduates Division.

Mrs. Shafer currently serves as the director of development exclusively focused on the undergraduate and graduate student experience, supporting fundraising initiatives for the Dean of Undergraduate Students and the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. She is also a community associate at Jones College, having been honored with the associate of the year award twice.