She attended the University of Mount Union where she received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and graduated summa cum laude, was Co-Founder and President of the University of Mount Union Pre-Physician Assistant Program, and worked as nurse technician in the CCU and ICU at a local community hospital. Shannon went on to graduate from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine's Physician Assistant Program in 2013, earning recognition for her Capstone Project in acute kidney injury prevention. Shannon is an active almuna in Northwestern University's Physician Assistant Program teaching in Clinical Medicine and Patient Assessment courses. She currently works at Northwestern Immediate Care Clinics and precepts Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner Students.