My Journey

From curious kid to full-stack developer, here's the story of how I got here.

The Curious Kid

My journey into development started long before I wrote my first line of code. As a kid, I was the one taking toys apart just to see how they worked. That curiosity has been with me my whole life, even when others didn't see my potential.

Shauna as a child
Upward arrow symbolizing growth and determination

Proving Myself

Growing up, I learned early on that I'd have to prove myself and fight for opportunities that others took for granted—a lesson that's shaped my entire path.

The Unexpected Path

I didn't study computer science in college. Honestly, I didn't even know it was an option when I started at UNC-Chapel Hill with a focus on Human Development & Family Studies. But when I discovered software engineering, everything clicked.

UNC Chapel Hill campus or graduation cap representing college education
Hackbright Academy logo or rocket ship symbolizing taking the leap

The Leap

I made the leap, completed an intensive bootcamp at Hackbright Academy, and never looked back. My nontraditional background isn't a limitation—it's my strength. It taught me grit, determination, and how to learn anything I set my mind to.

Bringing Visions to Life

What I enjoy most about development is the collaborative process of bringing someone's vision to life. Whether it's creating a web portal that streamlines operations for a local food pantry (my first project!) or building custom websites that help businesses establish their online presence, I thrive on understanding what people need and crafting something that works beautifully for them.

Full-Stack Expertise

My background spans full-stack development with Python, JavaScript, React, and more, plus experience in quality assurance that gives me a keen eye for detail and user experience. I believe great software isn't just about clean code—it's about truly understanding the people who will use it and having the perseverance to solve any problem that comes up.

Life Outside Code

When I'm not coding, you'll find me at silent disco, salsa dancing, exploring new restaurants with my wife, or at home spoiling our two cats.

Let's Build Together

Let's build something great together. Whether you have a clear vision or just the spark of an idea, I'd love to help make it happen.