At the time of her sabbatical Rebecca Shields has worked in every position at the Kodiak Women’s Resource and Crisis Center. Beginning in 1991 as an advocate, she worked her way up to executive director in 2007.

“I love my work and consider myself fortunate to get to devote my time and energy to a cause that I so deeply believe in. However, the work never stops. And the issues seem to somehow grow more complex. It was exhausting at times. As the executive director, I am always on duty,” she wrote.

During her sabbatical, Shields and her husband would fulfill a long-held dream to travel extensively abroad.

As of 2023, she was still executive director at the center.