Shannon was born and raised in Pueblo. She graduated from Central High School, then attended CU-Boulder and graduated with a degree in Environmental, Population and Organismic Biology. She had the opportunity to travel with Up with People for three years, being employed as the Dance Captain and Show Manager, where she was able to travel to and perform in 16 different countries. She then worked for event companies that ran both national and international events including working a ski race circuit, supervising a promotional event at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and co-managing a wave tour on the Danube Island in Vienna, Austria.

Shannon graduated with her degree in Physical Therapy from Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 2004. She has specialized in treatment of orthopedic conditions in outpatient rehabilitation facilities since. She has continued to advance her ongoing profession gaining certifications in dry needling, blood flow restriction training and a wide variety of other manual therapies. She enjoys playing in the outdoors, dancing and spending time with her amazing family.