Shannon Fitzsimons Moen connects educators, artists, audiences and ideas in unexpected and illuminating ways that spark dynamic discovery and growth. Moving between administrative, educational, and artistic roles in higher education and professional arts settings throughout her career, Shannon has honed her ability to craft context-rich, impactful programs and publications that speak powerfully to a range of audiences.

Shannon is the Associate Director of a2ru, an organization based at the University of Michigan which creates community and culture change for arts-based and arts-integrative practices in higher education. Shannon provides strategic leadership across a2ru’s programs: Since joining a2ru in late 2019, Shannon has lead a redesign and expansion of a2ru’s membership model, with a focus on institutional diversity and economic access; led a rebrand for the organization and its Creative Placemaking Resource Hub; and project managed a complete redesign of a2ru.org.

Shannon produces a2ru’s webinars and other digital programs, and serves as co-planner for the organization’s major events, including its annual conference and Emerging Creatives Student Summit. She contributes to a2ru’s consulting work with a range of higher education clients, including advising on a new arts and technology degree program for Georgia Tech and a new public art program for Auburn University. She spearheads a2ru’s work in arts in health, including producing their webinar series “On the Pulse: Arts in Health Today,” administering the a2ru Award for Excellence in Arts in Health Education, and organizing its Arts in Health Educators Working Group. She also serves as the communications lead for the organization, acting as editor and lead writer for a2ru.org and a2ru’s monthly newsletter; she manages all social media, advertising, press releases & annual reports.

Shannon actively supports the larger arts ecology at a2ru’s home institution through her work as a member of the U-M Arts Initiative Programming Committee and the Course Connections grant review panel, as well as a judge for the annual Science as Art competition for U-M students.

Prior to joining a2ru, Shannon served as the inaugural University Programs Manager at UMS (University Musical Society), the performing arts presenter at the University of Michigan. Shannon designed and managed UMS’s industry-leading portfolio of university-based arts-academic integration programs, which she grew to serve nearly 3,700 students in 2018-2019. Key initiatives included “Engaging Performance”, a team-taught course introducing U-M undergraduate students to the performing arts through the lens of the UMS season; two granting programs for faculty to develop arts-integrative teaching skills; and a commissioned series of white papers and case studies on arts integration best practices for faculty.

Shannon also produced several UMS main stage performances and its Research Residency program each season. Projects included work by Yo Yo Ma, Ivo van Hove/Toneelgroep Amsterdam, the Takács Quartet, Martha Graham Dance Company, Ping Chong + Company, Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Julia Wolfe, pianist Igor Levit, rapper/poet Omar Offendum, solo performer Edgar Oliver, and Alec Baldwin.

Before joining UMS, Shannon worked as a dramaturg, audience educator and theatre writer for companies across the country including The Public Theater/Under the Radar, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Steppenwolf, Lookingglass, California Shakespeare Theater and African-American Shakespeare Company. She also designed and taught courses in American theatre history and dramaturgy at Northwestern University.

Shannon holds a BA summa cum laude in Theatre from Hamilton College and an MA in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education from Michigan State University.

Shannon lives in Ann Arbor, MI with her husband Zak, their son Jasper, and their goldendoodle John Denver.