
A heart for service to others drew Shaunessy to a career in law. During her undergraduate experience at Dillard University in New Orleans, Shaunessy wasn’t thinking only about getting an education. She also chose New Orleans so she could help its citizens get back on their feet during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. After graduating, she pursued a master’s degrees in public administration and political science at Suffolk University in Boston. During that time, she decided that she wanted to pursue a law degree but knew she had more to learn. So, she applied to Teach for America, where she was selected from approximately 40,000 applicants to join the Corps. She taught sixth-grade social studies for three years in Memphis before returning home to St. Louis for law school. Now, as an associate, Shaunessy puts her background and service-minded ethos to work for clients.