Before coming to South Carolina, Dr. Shannon was a member of the faculty of the School of Library of Information and Library Science at the University of Kentucky. Her practical experience includes several years as a secondary school library media specialist in Florida and as an elementary school library media specialist for the Department of Defense Dependents Schools in Wiesbaden, Germany. Donna has also worked as a public librarian and as a research assistant for the Florida House of Representatives.

Donna's doctorate is from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the MLS from the University of South Florida, and undergraduate degree (in history and political science) is from the University of Florida. Professional affiliations include the American Library Association, the American Association of School Librarians, the Association for Library Services to Children, the Association of Library and Information Science Education, the South Carolina Association of School Librarians, and several education organizations.

Donna's current research interests include the impact of education reform and technology on school library media programs, children's responses to literature and the education of school library media specialists.