Muscatine Community College professor Lori Sheppard is turning a personal cancer battle into a message of hope.
MUSCATINE, Iowa — An area professor is turning a personal cancer battle into a message of hope.
Lori Sheppeard is a Muscatine Community College psychology and sociology professor with school lessons that relate to the real world.
“If it weren’t for Lori, I probably wouldn’t have continued,” sophomore Jaylea Perez said. “She helped me get out of a hole, and she helps everyone do that. It’s Lori that’s willing to listen and give them some advice they weren’t sure where to go for.”
While Sheppeard has been with Eastern Iowa Community Colleges since 2011, she was hired as an adjunct instructor in 2012 before becoming a full-time instructor in 2021.
“She’s just a beautiful soul, an absolutely beautiful soul,” friend and Micaela’s Hope Foundation leader Alma Brunson said. “She is a champion for others. She is always, always putting others first.”
“It’s really about how you leave people,” Sheppeard said. “There are some people who are fighting internal battles that you know nothing about.”
For the last two years, Sheppeard has been fighting a stage four cancer called adenocarcinoma.
“It’s something that I’ve battled; it is very tolling on a person,” she said. “I feel like it’s good for my students to see me persevere through this, so that they see, no matter what comes at them, you can still make a difference while you’re here.”
The strength of Sheppeard is shown through the countless ways she supports the campus and greater community, including the Gray Matters Collective, Phi Theta Kappa and domestic violence shelters. She spearheaded a mental health advocacy space on campus called “Room 50” for anyone to have a place to regroup or relax.
“Lori Sheppeard’s name comes up at the dinner table, pretty much nightly,” Muscatine Community College President Naomi DeWinter said. “My husband Steve is like, ‘Are you talking about Lori Sheppeard?’ ‘Yeah, we are talking about Lori Sheppard.’ No better person to receive this Pay It Forward award than Lori Sheppeard.”
A large crowd was on hand to help surprise Sheppeard with WQAD and Ascentra Credit Union’s $300 Pay It Forward award for consistently being genuinely dedicated, caring and reliable in serving all areas of her life.
“We want to honor all of the wonderful things you do for our students, for our community,” DeWinter said. “You listen, you care, you do and you help us do all along with you, and we’re so proud that you are part of our team.”
“I want each student who comes through my class to know I’m going to be in the stand at their graduation, being like, that was one of my students,” Sheppeard said. “And I’m going to be cheering them on through life.”
Sheppeard’s mother, father, sister and children attended the award celebration.
“I don’t think she realizes the impact she’s had on these kids,” mother Barb Housley said. “She’s earned every bit of it. I think these students for the rest of their lives are going to appreciate what she’s done for them. She’s giving these kids hope.”
“She touches a lot of lives, and she’s making a difference,” father David Housley said. “I’m proud of her.”
“I made a commitment to my husband many, many years ago, that I would see all of our kids through graduation,” Sheppeard said. “That’s been my goal since he passed — to just raise some really good kids that we both can be proud of. And I think that I’ve done that. “You don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I know I’ll fight till the end.”
Below is a full copy of the original Pay It Forward nomination form sent in to honor Sheppard. Muscatine Community College alumnus and PTK co-advisor Deana Dawson mostly contributed to the following report.
While Lori is a Psychology and Sociology instructor by trade, her true “work” is her tireless commitment to the human spirit. Lori has consistently been the heartbeat of our campus, proving that a little empathy can change the course of a person’s life. She (and her family) were awarded the “Starfish” award at the annual Awards Banquet for Muscatine Community College last week. This was in recognition of the small acts of kindness that help to project others along their journeys.
Lori doesn’t just teach from a textbook; she leads with her heart. She is a champion for mental health who recognized a desperate need for student support and spearheaded the creation of “Room 50″— a dedicated safe space on campus for anyone needing to decompress or find peace during a difficult day. Whether it is a student in crisis or a colleague having a hard week, Lori is the first person to stop what she’s doing to truly listen.
Her “paying it forward” mentality extends far beyond the classroom walls:
• Empowering the Next Generation: As an advisor for the Grey Matter Collective and Phi Theta Kappa, she teaches students that their voices matter. She recently guided them in collecting “stories of inspiration,” helping them see the beauty in shared human experiences.
• Creating Joy: During the Winter Craft Extravaganza, Lori went above and beyond to create a magical atmosphere for local families, coordinating student volunteers to dress as Santa and elves to ensure every child in Muscatine felt the holiday spirit.
• Meeting Basic Needs: Lori consistently challenges her students to look at the needs of the community. Under her wing, students have collected and distributed essential supplies to MCSA and the local domestic violence shelter.
Lori is the person who stays late, chaperones every event, and—when resources are thin—frequently uses her own personal means to ensure a student’s needs are met. She has never met a student she didn’t believe in. One of her students shared this experience with us:
“Last fall, I had the opportunity to take Intro to Psychology and Intro to Sociology with Lori Sheppeard. From the very first day, her calm and kind personality was evident, as was her enthusiasm for the subject material. Even though she has been teaching the same classes for several years, she makes the content interesting and fresh for every new group of students.
Throughout the semester, Ms. Sheppeard always discussed sensitive topics with tact and compassion, often revealing her own personal experiences to solidify our understanding. During class discussions, she encouraged peer interactions and respected all types of personalities. She doesn’t just want students to do well in her classes, but in all areas of life.
Ms. Sheppeard’s passion for mental health goes beyond the classroom. Her office is always open for anyone who wants to talk, and she is heavily involved with two student groups at MCC: the Gray Matters Collective (a mental health support group) and the Phi Theta Kappa honors society. She was also a key contributor to the recent creation of a dedicated mental health room on campus, known as Room 50.
Overall, Ms. Sheppeard truly wears her heart on her sleeve. Anyone who meets her or takes one of her classes will see her kindness, empathy and care for others shine through, and will be assured that she is dedicated to her students’ development as well-rounded humans. “
Lori Sheppeard never seeks the spotlight; she is always the first to nominate someone else for their hard work. It is time we shine that light back on her. She embodies the “Pay It Forward” spirit every single day, and I can think of no one more deserving of this recognition.
Know of someone going above and beyond in your community? Nominate them for WQAD and Ascentra Credit Union’s Pay It Forward award here.