Shannon is a social entrepreneur with three decades of experience in public and private sector collaboration, fundraising and diversity and inclusion work in education, healthcare and business sectors.
As the Co-Founder of Visible Men Academy, Shannon designed and implemented the Two Generation Whole Child and Family Programs, WOMEN SHINE Gender Equity Initiatives, Community Engagement efforts, and prior to her transition from VMA in 2018, she led School Advancement Initiatives. Shannon currently serves as a Senior Advisor to Visible Men Academy.
Shannon received her BA from Colgate University with a French and Sociology Concentration. She earned her Master’s in Social Work from Smith College School for Social Work. Shannon’s Master’s Thesis was entitled, “Family Ties, The Influence of Extended Families in Biracial Identity Development,” Her early social career was in the academic medicine at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford Hospital and Georgetown University Medical Center.
In 2018, Shannon launched a social impact agency that produces diversity and inclusion events, media and investment solutions. Shannon is the Founder of the Voice + Visibility Women’s Summit (VVWS) in Sarasota, FL. The VVWS convenes diverse, cross-sector female leaders with a mission to empower women, expand networks & opportunities, and elevate the voices of diverse women.
Shannon’s current board and advisory work includes: Serving as SoGal Sarasota Chapter Lead with the SoGal Foundation, Executive Board Member of The Women’s Resource Center, KNOW Tribe Diversity Advisory Board and Smith College Sarasota Alumni Board.
She lives with her husband Neil, two teenage sons and a growing tribe of pets in Sarasota. Shannon’s TEDx Talk is entitled: Failure & Forgiveness in the New South.