After serving 24 years in the U.S. Army, Shannon Lewis knew what it meant to lead, to protect, and to adapt. But as she approached retirement, a new question emerged: what’s next?
Today, Lewis is charting a powerful new path as a graduate student in the online Master of Science in Education in Curriculum and Instruction program at the University of Kansas. Driven by a passion for helping others and a lifelong love of learning, she’s translating her military experience into a new mission: educating and advocating for others through curriculum development and training.
Service that started in childhood and spanned the globe
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Lewis grew up attending the city’s annual air shows with her father and brother watching the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels soar and troops skydiving from great heights. “I just fell in love with what they represented and what they did for our country,” she recalled. By the fourth grade, she made up her mind: she wanted to serve in the U.S. Military.
That conviction never wavered. Lewis entered the Army Reserve shortly after high school. Inspired in part by her father’s role as a firefighter and in part because, as she says, “I like saving lives,” Lewis chose to become a medic. Following the events of September 11, 2001, she moved to active duty and spent more than two decades honing her leadership and communication skills, and absorbing the disciplined, service-focused mindset of a soldier.
“People are depending on you and your expertise,” she explains, “They’re depending on you to take care of yourself as well as the others around you.”
Finding her voice in advocacy and education
While stationed at West Point in 2013, Lewis was introduced to the Army’s SHARP (Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention) program. She became a victim advocate, supporting survivors through reporting, resource navigation, and the healing process. That role eventually led her to the SHARP Academy in Kansas, where she worked alongside content developers to design and deliver training for fellow advocates.
“I fell in love with the creative side of [curriculum development],” she says, “I like the creative abilities of being a developer and building something from scratch.”
As her military career neared its end, Lewis realized that her skills in adult instruction, leadership, and content development could fuel a second career with the right academic foundation.
Why KU? Timing, flexibility, and purpose
With two daughters at home, including one in college and one in middle school, Lewis needed a graduate program that would work with her full life. She found that fit in KU’s fully online M.S.E. program.
“I started looking around at colleges, and KU had a master’s program that was online that would work with my schedule,” she said. “So I could still be working, taking care of my kids, and going to school.”
Though her background wasn’t in a traditional K–12 classroom, KU’s program gave Lewis the opportunity to build new skills while adapting the curriculum to fit her real-world work in adult education and advocacy.
Lessons from the classroom
Today, the concepts Lewis is learning through KU—such as universal design for learning, differentiated instruction, and the ADDIE model (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate)—are helping her reimagine how adult learners are trained within the military and beyond.
She’s also noticed the impact at home. In recent meetings with her daughter’s gifted program’s IEP team, Lewis has been able to contribute more meaningfully. “In the past I'd just be sitting there like, ‘Okay, that sounds great,’” she said. “But once I started going to KU, I could actually understand what they were talking about, be a part of the conversation, and give proper feedback.”
Advice for nontraditional educators: ask, adapt, and engage
For professionals considering graduate study but without an intent to teach K-12, or unsure how they fit into the education space, Lewis offers clear advice: reach out.
“A lot of the students I'm in class with are working teachers and they're actually using a lot of these methodologies and strategies in their classrooms,” she explains, “So they have some hands-on experience and they can share those lessons they’ve learned.”
Lewis also commends her professors in the KU SOE program. “The professors here are amazing,” she says, noting the support she’s encountered when approaching instructors about altering projects to better suit her field. “That has probably been the biggest help for me. Every single professor has been super supportive about it and a lot of them love having that different conversation, because I’m not teaching a traditional curriculum in a school.”
What’s next? Teaching the hard conversations
Lewis hopes to return to curriculum development, ideally at the SHARP Academy or in a related space that prioritizes social impact and adult learning. She’s especially passionate about equipping young people—and their parents—to have honest conversations about difficult topics like harassment and consent.
“There’s a real need to prepare students for the realities of the world,” she said. “If I can help create content that makes those conversations possible, that’s where I want to be.”
A mission continues
From bootcamp to the classroom, Lewis’s journey reflects a consistent theme: service. Whether saving lives as a medic, navigating hospital and legal processes as a victim advocate, or shaping minds as a curriculum designer, she’s always focused on helping others thrive.
With the flexibility of KU’s online M.S.E. program and the support of a faculty that values her experience, Shannon is building a second career with purpose—and showing others how their past can become a powerful foundation for their future.
Empower your next chapter with the online Master of Science in Education (M.S.E.) from the University of Kansas School of Education and Human Sciences. Designed for educators and professionals from all backgrounds, this flexible program offers research-driven strategies, inclusive curriculum design, and practical tools for real-world impact. Explore KU’s admissions requirements or connect with an admissions outreach advisor to see how this program can support your goals.