Charlene Shaw

Alumni Service Awards, 2013

Charlene Heuboski Shaw BA, Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, 1970

Charlene shares this award along with her husband, Robert Shaw. Together they helped start the Northwestern-Chicago Botanic Garden graduate program in plant biology and conservation that earned them the 2008 Chicago Botanic Garden Excellence in Leadership award, as well as the 2011 Chicago Horticultural Society Medal. Charlene has “a green thumb,” says Robert. As a volunteer at the Botanic Garden, Charlene collects DNA samples and verifies data.

Charlene is a member of the The Alumnae of Northwestern University and the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors. She also supports the American Music Theatre Project at Northwestern's School of Communication, co-chaired her 35th and 40th reunions, served on reunion committees for seven years, and served on the Sheil Catholic Center Advisory Board.

“We have gotten more involved because we see the impact on students and the results they can have on the country and world,” Charlene says. “I have learned that you get back more than you give.”

She lives in Evanston with her husband. They have two adult children, Clifford and Alan.