Shelby Blessing is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She also works as a Teaching Assistant, participated in the inaugural year of UT's Public Interest Design program, and won the 1st place award among UT teams competing in the national ULI/Hines Urban Design Competition in 2012. She intends to use her architecture degree and her skills of resourcefulness, playfulness, and inventiveness to help craft a built environment that improves lives and builds communities.

Shelby has a BA in Art from Whitman College, and comes to Texas after working as an English teacher in China and an environmental educator / wildlife rehabilitator / grant coordinator in New Mexico. Her hobbies include rock climbing and adventurous eating.