Texas State is proud to honor Shalena Stelzig, Director of Advancement Services, as our March 2025 Employee of the Month! With over fourteen years of dedicated service, Shalena has made a lasting impact through her leadership, innovation, and commitment to excellence.
Leading with Purpose
Throughout her career at Texas State, Shalena has steadily risen through the ranks within University Advancement, and today, she leads the gift and data team with vision and purpose. Her guidance has been instrumental in maintaining a grade A in data cleanliness, a benchmark based on industry standards.
She was recently recognized with a CASE Circle of Excellence Grand Gold Award for her team’s work on creating student dashboards that streamline data management and empower student workers. “The winning project, ‘Partnering With Students to Get an A in Database Hygiene,’ was designed to assist with the ongoing challenge of maintaining data integrity in the CRM system,” she shared.
This innovative solution doesn’t just improve operations—it gives student workers a stronger sense of ownership while allowing staff to focus on high-impact projects.
Innovating the Donor Experience
One of Shalena’s most groundbreaking achievements is the implementation of digital tax receipts, a first for Texas State. Thanks to her leadership, Phase 1 of the project launched at the start of the fiscal year, resulting in the roll out of digital receipts for all simple cash gifts accounting for 50% of tax receipts and an 80%-time savings for staff.
With Phases 2 and 3 scheduled to launch in Fall 2024, the project is on track to have 75% of total gift receipts sent digitally, saving time, money, and enhancing donor satisfaction.
Why She Loves Texas State
Shalena’s passion for her work is deeply rooted in the community she’s part of. “I love that I am able to work in a place where I can use my skills and knowledge to help others. Our leadership encourages us to think bigger and think like winners. It feels great to have people believe in you!” she said.
Words of Wisdom
For those just beginning their journey at Texas State, Shalena offers heartfelt advice:
“Stay persistent and never give up. While there will be tough days, remember that hard work, determination, and commitment always lead to success. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and try something new.”
Life Beyond the Office
When she’s not driving innovation at Texas State, Shalena enjoys life to the fullest with her husband. “I enjoy spending time with my husband riding horses and roping, sitting on the beach and laughing with our friends!”
Congratulations, Shalena! Your creativity, leadership, and heart for helping others make Texas State a better place every day. We’re lucky to have you on the team! 🌟🐾