NORFOLK, Va. - Shirley Whitaker, who served for nearly 40 years as a staff member with the NSU Athletics Department before her retirement in September, will serve as honorary captain when the Spartans host Florida A&M on Saturday, Oct. 23 in their homecoming day matchup. 

Whitaker held the title of administrative and program specialist III at the time of her retirement. She joined the athletics department in 1971 and began working under then-athletics director William Archie. Since then she assisted succeeding athletics directors Willard Bailey, William “Dick” Price, Orby Moss and the department's current director, Marty Miller.

Whitaker's duties covered a variety of specialized areas to including administrative, technical and compliance support for the athletics department.   She also assisted with the department's various community outreach initiatives. 

Whitaker is a native of Newport News, Va., and a 1971 graduate of NSU, where she received a bachelor's degree in business education. She earned a master's degree at NSU in urban affairs with an emphasis in human resources, planning and administration.

In addition to serving under five athletics directors, Whitaker has worked with more than 50 coaches, nearly a dozen assistant and associate athletics directors and thousands of current and former athletes.  She has also been a trusted liaison between NSU athletics and the campus community.