Shannon Poppell
Mesa Community CollegeShannon Poppell is a nontraditional student who is an active leader committed to making a difference! Since Fall 2018, when she returned to college, Shannon has been an engaged servant leader. In the community, she has served as an AmeriCorps Member through Mesa United Way, City of Mesa Census2020 Ambassador and Redistricting Ambassador, Sunshine Acres Children’s Home volunteer, to name a few. At Mesa Community College (MCC), she has worked with many departments and programs, such as the Center for Community & Civic Engagement (Net Impact Engagement Team), Red Mountain Campus Library, Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, Psi Beta Psychology Honors Society, Student Success Programs, and the Fire Science Department. Through her concerted efforts with the college and community, Shannon has consistently shown that she is attentive to the growth and well-being of others. Throughout her tenure at MCC, she has tackled social issues like student retention and success, fair representation of minorities in the Census2020, redistricting, and justice and equity.
Personal Statement
My journey of servant leadership began at the age of twelve with reading to younger children. Since then, I have conducted many projects involving environmental sustainability, social equity, political representation, neurodiversity inclusion, mental wellness, educational achievement, and cultural arts. My most fulfilling direct service roles have been in children’s theatre and promoting literacy, both of which are vital to the fabric of society. The arts encourage individuals to connect with experiences outside their own, while literacy enables knowledge, engagement, and advocacy. My life is immeasurably enriched by these service experiences. I value each person and honor their unique human journey. I am moved by the ability of service to benefit not only the recipient but also to empower volunteers in ways they had not imagined. Thus, I am committed to mentoring and equipping emerging servant leaders to pursue justice and equity aligned with their diverse passions. Inspiring others to serve does not focus on making one kind of difference, but on cultivating unity. Service is not a duty, but a growth opportunity. To advance future student leaders, I created a sustainable campus student organization that promotes servant leadership in a rising generation.