Dr. Shafer began her academic career at The Ohio State University's Marion campus. During her tenure, she served as an Admissions and Financial Aid Officer and Public Relations Director.

Upon completion of her master's degree, she joined the Shelby Insurance Company and served nearly ten years in various corporate positions including Public Relations, Sales, Marketing and Underwriting.

Dr. Shafer joined Tiffin University in 1993 as an adjunct professor.

In 1996, she became the Director of the Elyria Academic Center and was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Fast Track degree completion program in Organizational Management. She joined the full-time faculty as Dean of Arts and Sciences in 1999.

In 2005 she took over as Dean of Assessment and Accreditation and successfully orchestrated reaccreditation visits with the Ohio Department of Higher Education, Higher Learning Commission, European Council on Business Education and American Council of Business Schools and Programs garnering the maxirimm reaffirmations allowed by all four accreditation agencies.

Dr. Shafer is considered an accreditation specialist and serves the Higher Learning Commission as a Peer Reviewer as a visiting team member and distance education reviewer.

In 2011 she became Associate Dean of International Business Programs and currently serves as a Professor of Management. Dr. Shafer is also a member of the TU Graduate Faculty Senate.

As an organizational behavior scholar, Dr. Shafer's work includes research into corporate mergers and downsizing and how these activities impact human capital and efficiencies.

She has published and presented her research at numerous conferences both regionally and nationally. Dr. Shafer's consulting experience is extensive as she works with both national and international companies with respect to human resource training, executive coaching, strategic planning and budgeting.

She also serves the higher learning community as a pedagogical mentor to various faculty members and institutions across the nation.

Dr. Shafer is a member of several professional organizations and serves on a number of local program boards.