Mary Josephine Shelly

Mary Josephine Shelly (February 17, 1902 – August 5, 1976) on February 17, 1902, the youngest of four children, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1919, Shelly joined John Harvey Kellogg's Battle Creek School of Physical Education, graduating in spring 1922. There she met Martha Hill, who remained a close friend and colleague throughout her life. Several suspected a romantic component throughout their early relationship.

From 1923 to 1924, Shelly taught at the Battle Creek Normal School. where she supervised courses on the study of communications and global studies. with Shelly as the administrative director, dealing with "catastrophes" as they arose. The rigorous program became "an important hub for modern dance", and was particularly notable for teaching many techniques and approaches to modern dance with a focus on artistry. Shelly returned in this position in summers until 1941.

In 1938, Shelly joined Bennington College as the educational assistant to university President Robert Devore Leigh.

Shelly inherited the problems that May had struggled with, including problems with women's uniforms, which were not constructed to fit the women, and substandard housing. She also faced low morale due to civilian women doing the same jobs, but in more attractive clothing and less restrictive positions. The WAF also struggled with a low education rate, with 29% of recruits lacking a high school diploma, and a high attrition rate. In 1952, Jeanne M. Holm reported to Shelly that the WAF was in danger of shrinking until it disappeared. In response to this, Shelly worked to make the WAF more elite, dropping quotas and raising the minimum Armed Forces Qualification Test score. Following this change, though fewer women were recruited, they outperformed men in several areas. Although the number of women in administration shrunk, nearly twice as many women were growing in high-tech communications.

In 1953, Shelly returned to Bennington as director of personnel. In January 1954, she resigned from the Air Force. That same year, she began working for the Girl Scouts of the USA as their public relations director. She retired in 1966.

Later life and death In 1967, Shelly and Hill began writing a book about Bennington. While the book was unpublished, Shelly's writings were widely referenced in accounts of the Bennington School of Dance.

On August 2, 1976, Shelly was suddenly hospitalized and on August 5, died at New York Hospital.