Shalise Michelle Truxler
She/Her
2 Years in Care
Shalise Truxler entered foster care in 2015 with her two siblings and was reunified with her family 2 years later. Throughout multiple placements, she faced complex challenges that shaped her understanding of resilience, equity, and the importance of advocating for youth like herself. Despite these obstacles, she found support through youth groups that taught safety, emotional awareness, and leadership—sparking her passion for Social Work.
Shalise recently graduated from Ivy Tech with an Associate of Human Services/Social Work and is now enrolled at Ball State University pursuing a BSW. She works part-time in retail while actively advocating for foster youth through the Indiana Foster Youth Alliance and Foster Success, participating in policy initiatives, legislative advocacy, and community-building events. She’s organized programs such as the IYAB Annual Conference, Sankofa Knowledge Exchange, and youth violence prevention focus groups, and has held leadership roles as Human Services Club Secretary and Treasurer.
Her interests span languages, law, and technology, reflecting her curiosity and drive. Shalise aims to continue her education with a Master’s in Social Work, explore macro-level social work, policy, program planning, and eventually influence systemic change. She is committed to empowering foster youth, investing in communities, and inspiring others to give back
