Shawn joined DirectWomen as its Executive Director in September 2017. She has spent her entire career in the legal non-profit world and is a Certified Association Executive (CAE). Shawn worked at the American Bar Association for 25 years serving in a variety of positions, including Director of the Commission on Women in the Profession. She also staffed the Gender Equity Task Force presidential initiative while with the Commission. Prior to joining DirectWomen, Shawn was the Director of Committees at DRI: The Voice of the Defense Bar. Shawn is an avid reader of fiction, loves to cook, and is a gardener-in-training. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband and two college-aged children.