Shelly Buhler was appointed to the Washburn University Board of Regents July 3, 2019 by Gov. Laura Kelly.
Mrs. Buhler is a graduate of Junction City High School and a graduate of Benedictine College with a Bachelor of Arts in Community Services. She is also a graduate of the University of Kansas Certified Public Manager program, the 2003 Leadership Greater Topeka Class and Leadership Kansas 2009, and the Kansas Association of Counties Institute of Excellence-Foundations in County Government.
Shelly Buhler accepted the position as president of Hayden Catholic High School in March of 2018. Before joining Hayden, Mrs. Buhler served 18 years in elected office, serving as Shawnee County Commissioner in 2006, 2020 and again in 2014. Prior to being elected Commissioner, Mrs. Buhler served as Mayor of Rossville for six years.
Currently Mrs. Buhler serves on the Hayden High School Board of Trustees, the Hayden Foundation Board of Directors, the Topeka Community Foundation Board of Directors, and the Rossville Community Foundation Board of Directors.
During her career, Mrs. Buhler was awarded the Kansas Health Foundation Community Health Leadership Award, the 2010 YWCA Women of Excellence Award in the Management Category, the Velma K. Paris Community Service Award, and the 2017 Women of Influence Community Service Award.
She and her husband, Steve, live in Topeka, Kansas. Steve is the head football coach at Washburn Rural High School and also teaches Journalism. They have three grown children; two of which graduated from Washburn University.
Her term as a Regent is to expire June 30, 2023.
