Laurie Blunsom received her Ph.D. in musicology at Brandeis University and also holds an MFA in musicology and women's studies from Brandeis and a master's degree from the New England Conservatory. Her principal interest is in the participation of women in music in the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries. She has presented several papers on women composers in 19th-century America at conferences such as the Society for American and Music, Feminist Theory and Music and the Women's History Network.

Shirlee has worked in the School of Art since 2005, and has been employed at MSUM since 1985.