Alumna Sherri Blum, featured this Women’s History Month in Shippensburg’s “America the Entrepreneurial” campaign, pursued a diverse career path, starting as a high school social studies teacher in Baltimore County, to becoming a celebrity interior designer and then founding the lifestyle Brand,Bourbon Cowgirl. Blum represents that the route to entrepreneurship can take on many different paths.
In 1990, Blum earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a certification in secondary education at Shippensburg University. Then, she spent several years teaching while taking 15 credits in counseling and psychology at Loyola University Maryland before she decided to pivot.
“Everything shifted in 1993 when I had my first child. I realized I wanted to be home more, but I also knew I still needed to contribute financially,” Blum said. After her neighbors saw and admired the work she had done within her home, she started helping them with various house projects. Over time, she found a passion for designing nurseries and children’s spaces, which led to the launch of Jack and Jill Interiors. Before she knew it, her work spread across the country and attracted a diverse range of clients, brands and media attention.
While Blum had a passion for interior design, she found herself longing to tap into her roots. “Even as a child, I was drawn to Western fashion and lifestyle — this kind of style felt authentic to who I was outside of my work as a designer. What started as a personal passion gradually turned into a business idea.”
From there, Blum launched Bourbon Cowgirl, an apparel and accessories brand designed for women who want an authentic, yet elevated Western look. “I wanted to create more than just a boutique. I wanted to build a brand and community for women who love elevated Western style and want pieces that feel authentic, confident and timeless,” Blum said. “The transition from designing interiors to building Bourbon Cowgirl felt like a natural next chapter.”
From a young age, Blum learned that following your dreams often requires some risk. Her father left his career with the state to manage a horseback riding stable, a decision that required her family to completely build a business from scratch. “It was a huge leap of faith and a major transition for all of us,” she recalled. “As kids, we all pitched in to help make the business work, so I learned early on the value of hard work and resilience. I saw firsthand that setbacks are part of the journey, and when things don’t go as planned, you have to get back up, dust yourself off and get back on the horse.”
In addition to her early years, Blum shared that her experience at Shippensburg was also crucial to her success. “My time at Shippensburg University was truly invaluable,” she said. It gave me my first real opportunity to leave home and learn how to live independently in a supportive environment.” Blum acknowledged her faculty advisor, Dr. Walter Konetschni, a 1966 alumus and retired faculty member, as well as the lifelong friendships she formed through Phi Sigma Sigma sorority for shaping her as a person and a professional.
As Shippensburg celebrates entrepreneurship and women who serve as an inspiration to others, Blum’s start as a classroom teacher to a renowned designer and founder of a one-of-a-kind boutique serves as a reminder that it is possible to change course and find great success in pursuing one’s dreams.
