Shannon Pace is a West Virginia transplant originally from Mississippi who moved to McDowell County in 2017 with her family. Over the past eight years, she has dedicated herself to serving her community in multiple capacities, including Communities in Schools Facilitator, Parent Educator, Wyldlife Leader, and business owner. Shannon's true strength lies in leveraging the partnerships she has cultivated to bridge gaps and create opportunities for her community.

With a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and a minor in Psychology, Shannon's passion centers on community, mental health, student support, and advocating for families living in hardship. She has served her community through student advocacy, facilitating recovery meetings, mission team coordination with her nonprofit, and most recently by opening The Riverfront Roast Coffee House. These diverse experiences have shaped her holistic approach to community development.

Shannon's ultimate goal is to provide students with safe spaces to grow and learn while helping them learn to love who they are and discover their potential. She believes West Virginia has so much to offer if we will only look, a philosophy that drives her work in creating connections between resources and needs. Drawn to West Virginia by its natural beauty and welcoming spirit, Shannon enjoys kayaking and spending time with her children, finding inspiration in the very landscape she works to help others appreciate.