Shannon earned a BA in philosophy and a BS in psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and then an MA in philosophy from Georgia State before making her way to Madison. She is particularly interested in philosophical issues regarding the explanatory status of mathematical models in science, particularly dynamical systems models; the reliability and validity of experimental methodology in the sciences; and issues in philosophy of science related to causation and causal models. Outside of philosophy, she enjoys ballet, poker, a good Irish whiskey, and attending symphonies, operas, and ballets.