My name is Shannon McLoughlin Morrison. I have a PhD in Education from The Ohio State University. I am the Curriculum and Assessment Manager for the Center for Aviation Studies and the de facto diversity coordinator of our program.
More often than not, I have found myself to be the only female (or one of two) in various aviation settings. I am also one of the youngest people in the room. This brings with it a sense of responsibility for thinking about the future of an industry that I care about.
I came to the field of aviation in a round-about way, but it has always been a part of my family. My grandfather worked for Curtiss-Wright, which by the end of World War II was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world. I am also married to a pilot whose family is filled with aviation professionals, including pilots and air traffic controllers. I am an educator at heart with an enthusiasm for aviation.
It has been more recently that issues of diversity and inclusion have become important to me. As I spent more and more time in the industry I became increasingly aware of how little representation there was of diverse perspectives. I found this troubling given the impact that aviation has worldwide.
I hope to contribute in some small measure, by giving others a platform to share their ideas and thoughts.
