Julie Shannan has created, launched and managed some of the most innovative and effective informal education programs for girls, parents and teachers. Ms. Shannan is a recipient of the prestigious “Austin Under 40” Award for leadership in Youth and Education. She currently serves on the Texas Girls Collaborative Project Leadership Council, serves on the Women Shaping Texas Advisory Committee for the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, a member of NASA Human Health and Performance Center, and is an advisory board member for SciGirls, a PBS show for girls and science.

Ms. Shannan graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelors in Biology and has developed nationally recognized science and technology programs that have been funded by Oprah’s Angel Network, the Texas Education Agency and the National Science Foundation. Ms. Shannan has presented at the Texas Conference for Women, The Conference for Science Teachers Association, Expanding Your Horizons, Society of Women Engineers, Women in Technology International, and the National Science Teachers Association promoting opportunities for girls in math, science, engineering, and technology.

In addition, she has been featured in Austin Monthly, Family Circus, Mothering Magazine, The Austin American Statesman, Austin Business Journal, San Antonio Business Journal, and CosmoGirl. Ms. Shannan’s passion for science and math drive her to constantly create cutting edge programs that spark girls’ intellect and creativity while engaging the Central Texas community in the process.