Shannon is a Ph.D candidate in Mechanical Engineering and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. Their current research focuses on front-end design practices, undergraduate engineering student experiences with divergent thinking and creativity, and engineering culture, knowledge, and skills. She has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). During undergrad, her interest in inclusive teaching and learning was fostered through her work as a Teaching Fellow as well as utilizing restorative practices focused on participatory learning to promote inclusiveness, relationship building, and problem-solving. Her passion for socially engaged design was then solidified by working with the nonprofit Volunteers for Medical Engineering within the IMAGE Center of Maryland, designing custom solutions to help improve the lives and independence of individuals with disabilities. Shannon’s design expertise also includes experience in automotive product development and combustion research. You can find her in the C-SED lounge area (3360 GG Brown) or C-SED lab (3341/3361 GGB) doing work, reading various fiction and nonfiction books, and talking about her love of plants.