2026 Fall
This is why I give: Betty Shaw
Betty Shaw
There is nothing more rewarding than being part of the University’s mission,” says Betty Shaw (JD ’81). Betty’s family is all Gopher—she and her four daughters are alumni, and her late husband L. Earl Shaw was a political science professor for two decades. Betty’s commitment to education and lifelong learning inspired her to establish scholarships at several institutions, including two at UMN.
She began her affiliation with campus as an instructor in General College when she and Earl first came to Minnesota. After several years focused on her family, she decided to reenter the workforce. Starting law school at age 37 with children under the age of 11, she graduated with high honors and served on Law Review. After a stint at a large firm, she spent 25 years with the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board, a dream job that allowed her to stay active in litigation, meet the best (and worst) of the profession, and balance parenting with work.
Betty got to know more about K–12 education from serving on a local school board, and from her daughter Deborah, a 4th grade teacher and CEHD alumna. “Deb is incredibly skilled at meeting the needs of different students and promoting educational equity,” says Betty. “Students don’t care what you know until they know you care, and Deb embodies that in her classroom.”
One concern Betty and Deb shared, however, was the shortage of teachers of color in Minnesota. Research has shown that the academic performance of students of color improves when they have teachers of color, and providing financial aid helps build a more diverse pipeline for the teaching profession. As a way to have an impact, Betty established the Deborah Shaw Cornelius Scholarship to support future educators who have overcome obstacles to attain higher education.
Betty also supports Wezhinoo’igejig: Ojibwe Scholars in Early Childhood. Prompted by a desire to turn performative land acknowledgments into tangible action, and inspired by her husband’s past connections with Native communities in Arizona, the program is a good fit for her giving. She often shares how important it is to enable others to become leaders, and philanthropy can be part of that. “To know you are helping specific individuals brings true joy,” she says.
—Ann Dingman