Shannon is Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Colorado Succeeds. Shannon is a key leader in driving the organization’s strategic policy vision to transform education and workforce systems across Colorado. Working closely with the President and Board of Directors, Shannon leads efforts to shape and implement policies that expand educational equity and create high-quality opportunities for all young people in the state. She oversees the organization’s communications, advocacy, and policy teams. Shannon previously served as Chief of Staff at Colorado Succeeds. Her passion lies in ensuring that every Colorado student has access to an education that unlocks their potential and prepares them to thrive.
Prior to Colorado Succeeds, Shannon worked at the US Department of Education on federal policy and program implementation. She’s worked in the private sector in public affairs and public relations in Los Angeles and Washington, DC. She began her career as a Teach For America corps member teaching high school in Las Vegas.
Shannon has a master’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, a master’s degree in Strategic Communication from the University of Southern California, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis.
Community Involvement
Shannon has spent 20 years supporting education and workforce initiatives in her personal and professional life. As a former high school teacher, she finds ways to volunteer regularly with local high school students for career-connected learning and mentorship opportunities. She is a member of the 2023 Leadership Denver class through the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and is active in the Policy Innovators in Education (PIE) Network.
Why Shannon Loves Colorado
While she sometimes finds herself missing a coastal body of water, Shannon can’t imagine raising her boys, Harry and Max, in a better place than Colorado. Shannon has had the opportunity to travel the state through partnership and community-led collaborations and continues to enjoy finding new places and spaces to visit again. When she’s at her home in Denver, she enjoys reading a good book, playing soccer in the backyard with her boys, debating education policy with her husband, Jamie, a 20-year educator, and weekend catchups with lifelong friends.
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