Plenary Session Panel Bios

Shannon Dunivon serves as the Senior Director of Financial Aid, where she leads a team of exceptional financial aid administrators and drives the department’s efforts to support student success through effective financial aid strategies and processes. With a career dedicated to financial aid and higher education, Shannon is passionate about breaking down barriers and eliminating the stigma often associated with financial aid. She believes in the power of clear, transparent communication to make the process easier for students and families to understand. Her commitment is to ensure every student receives the guidance and support they need to navigate financial aid successfully.
Before joining LCC, Shannon served as Director of Member Services at Michigan Independent Colleges & Universities (MICU), where she managed collaborative services, facilitated cost-saving initiatives, and organized professional development opportunities for private and independent colleges and universities. She also worked as Deputy Director for Student Scholarships and Grants within the Michigan Department of Treasury (now housed within MiLEAP), overseeing the operational functions and promotion of state aid programs. Her experience also includes serving as Director of Student Services at Baker College of Jackson, where she led the Financial Aid, Career Services, and Campus Safety departments. Shannon was recently elected to the Michigan Student Financial Aid Association (MSFAA) Board as the 2-Year Sector Representative. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with a focus on Public Relations from Ferris State University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Leadership Studies from Baker College.

As executive director, Ryan ensures MCAN is able to meet its mission by having the strategies, resources, and support necessary to reach Sixty by 30. This includes leading MCAN’s policy work, fund development, partnerships, and efforts to achieve the organization’s strategic plan.

Ryan has worked in education and the nonprofit field for nearly 20 years, having served in K-12, higher education, and community organizations. He served as assistant director of the Student Life Center at Saginaw Valley State University immediately after graduate school. In that role, he led the university’s leadership and volunteer programming as well as community partnerships. After SVSU, Ryan took his civic engagement skills to Michigan Campus Compact where he served as assistant director of training and technical assistance. There, he supported Michigan colleges and universities in their community engagement. Ryan then spent the next four years consulting and supporting organizations around the state including the Jackson College Access Center, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Education Northwest/AmeriCorps VISTA, and the Shiawassee Child Advocacy Center, among others. In that capacity, he consulted with MCAN from its inception in 2010. Over time, he’s served MCAN as a consultant, part-time staff member, assistant director, deputy director, and now executive director, a role he assumed in November 2019 when succeeding the founder.

Ryan earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts from Central Michigan University in integrative public relations and attended CMU for graduate school as well, earning a Master of Arts in educational administration and community leadership. College was the clear next step after high school for Ryan, as he was privileged to have support from his family and school. He worked in the campus volunteer center through graduate school and learned about critical issues facing communities — especially the lack of equity in education. This sparked his commitment to public service and education access.

Brandy became President of MCCA in December 2021. Prior to this role, she served in the Governor’s administration, first as Governor Whitmer’s education policy advisor and then as a manager of the Office of Sixty by 30 within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. In 2010, she founded the Michigan College Access Network and served as its Executive Director until 2019. Brandy also served as policy fellow and college access coordinator under Governor Jennifer Granholm. She was appointed by Governor Whitmer to represent Michigan on the Midwest Higher Education Compact and served on Governor Snyder’s 21st Century Education Commission. She has been recognized for her leadership and advocacy by the Michigan Association of School Administrators, National College Access Network, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, as well as by the Michigan College Access Network. Brandy earned her B.A. in Political Science from Arizona State University and her M.A.in Public Policy from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.