MBA graduate picked for Outstanding Alumni Award

When Shelly Schorer enrolled as a student at Pittsburg State University, she was about 10 years older than just about everyone in her classes.

It didn’t matter.

“I made friends with many of the students and ended up working with a couple of them after we graduated,” she said.

Her experiences were transformational, including engaging group projects, the chance to interact with international students, and the spirit on campus.

“It was a really fun place to attend and learn, and I would not have the job or career I have today without my MBA,” she said. “I think that PSU was able to provide a strong program that really prepared me for my roles as I progressed through my career.”

Now, PSU is recognizing Schorer for her many accomplishments in that career as one of two recipients of the Dr. Kenneth K. Bateman Outstanding Alumni Award as part of this year’s Homecoming activities. A ceremony and reception was held today at the Wilkinson Alumni Center.

Schorer, who earned her MBA in 2002, is now the chief financial officer for Common Spirit Health’s Northern California Division. She oversees the financial operations of the division and advises the division president regarding the development and growth of the integrated delivery network, encompassing hospitals, ambulatory care sties, physician alignment, joint ventures, and payer relations. The division encompasses 13 hospitals, $5 billion in net revenue, 16,000 employees, four medical foundations, and numerous joint venture partners.

Schorer also spent 12 years at Mercy as a regional CFO for Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas. She has extensive disaster recovery experience in addition to her tenure in healthcare finance.

Community service includes Soroptimist, Rotary, church activities, the Chamber, United Way, the YMCA, and numerous other local and regional civic organizations, and she often speaks at the state and national level about matters governing the healthcare industry.

Her awards include being named one of the “15 Most Influential Women by the Joplin, Missouri, Tri-State Business Journal, and a “Woman Healthcare Leader to Know” and “CFO to know” on several occasions by Becker’s Hospital Review. She has served as president for the Show Me Missouri Chapter of Healthcare Financial Managers Association.

“I am extremely honored, considering the talent in the alumni pool, to be recognized for such a prestigious program for career achievements,” she said. “It is always fulfilling to be recognized after many years of hard work. I have had a great career in healthcare and the MBA program in Kelce College of Business was one of my foundation building blocks.”

Schorer is grateful, she added, for her Pittsburg State education.

“There was obviously the well-rounded and meaningful course work and syllabi, but there were also programs and projects that taught us how to work together as teams to solve issues, problems, and study together. And, I found great leadership in the professors,” she said. “I think going through a program like this builds your confidence as well, preparing you to take on an unknown project and determine a path and approach to success.”

What makes the Outstanding Alumni Award especially poignant to her, she said, is that her son, James “Jake” Hunter, also received an award from Pittsburg State this year: he was chosen as the Outstanding MBA student award winner by the Kelce College of Business.