Shannon grew up insistent on looking at the world with an optimistic view no matter what life delivered. She attended University of Kansas and enjoyed sampling a variety of degrees before emerging from the history and political science departments, also spending time dabbling in music performance. During college, she enjoyed stints working with the Kansas World Trade Center, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Octarium professional vocal ensemble and the National Championship of High School Acappella. After college, she joined forces with Teach For America and became part of the Memphis Charter Corps where she taught in urban Memphis 2006-2008. Next is a degree in Public Policy from the University of Washington and hopefully some nonprofit work on the side. She anticipates many adventures in the future that involve travel, meeting amazing people and improving the state of education as the primary means to of improving our country and world’s future.
Started “Genuine Imitation” acappella, KU Ski and Snowboard Club, held several positions including president of Margaret Amini Scholarship Hall, sang with professional ensemble Octarium.
Summer Training Institute in Atlanta, Georgia teaching 7th grade boys the basics of reading.
Two years of teaching in Memphis in various capacities- 6th grade science & social studies, 5th and 6th grade science, 7th grade reading.
Intern in a 4 person office: duties in assisting international trade negotiations, planning and execution of the first Annual Trade Conference bringing in delegations from Kansas' top 5 trading partner countries, advertising and event planning, membership recruitment and retention.
Intern for Entrepreneurship and Education Research & Policy
Worked with Entrepreneurship and Education sides of Research & Policy. Various projects pertaining to finding the causes of entrepreneurial and educational iniquities and helping create programs to target the causes of such inequality.
Jun - 
