2022 Distinguished Service Award

Henry D. Shannon, Ph.D.

Superintendent/President
Chaffey College

Henry D. Shannon, Ph.D., has dedicated more than 50 years of service to education and is the recipient of the 2022 Distinguished Service Award.

Dr. Shannon is the Superintendent and President of Chaffey College. He began his career in education in 1969 as an elementary school teacher in St. Louis, Missouri. During his decades of service, he was a counselor, a dean and served in various roles, including chancellor at St. Louis Community College District.

Under Dr. Shannon’s leadership, Chaffey College launched a 10-Point Plan equity reform initiative to improve diversity in hiring, training and curriculum.
He established the Center for Culture and Social Justice resource center,
which creates a sense of belonging for historically underserved groups. He also established the Panther Care Program, which serves as a safety net for students in need by providing food, shelter and grants. His leadership has helped Chaffey College secure a generous gift of $25 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott to support students who are the first in their families to go to college, students of color and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Dr. Shannon came from humble beginnings in Mississippi. He was the first in his family to go to college. He understands many of the students he currently serves are facing similar challenges of food and shelter insecurities. Dr. Shannon is a champion for equity among students.

“Dr. Shannon understands the plight of many first-generation college students,” said Mark Vidal, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Chaffey College in his nomination of Dr. Shannon. “At Chaffey, he has made it his personal goal to ensure that students served in the region have pathways to success—regardless of socioeconomic status.”

Adrienne Shepherd-Myles

CTE Program Manager
Desert/Mountain SELPA

Adrienne Shepherd-Myles has served in education for more than 30 years with a drive to create meaningful change and is the recipient of the 2022 Distinguished Service Award.

Shepherd-Myles is currently the program manager for Career Technical Education (CTE) with the Desert/Mountain Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), a support services office that provides resources on issues related to special education and other supports to students.

Shepherd-Myles’ career began at San Bernardino County Juvenile Hall as a counselor in 1991. She was a resource specialist and teacher in Rialto Unified and San Bernardino City Unified school districts. Her career took her to San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools’ East Valley SELPA where she served as a program specialist before transitioning to Desert Mountain SELPA.

Shepherd-Myles is a forward-thinker who champions for change to benefit students and adults in San Bernardino County. She provides support for students with disabilities who are transitioning from school to adult life. She addresses challenges in the High Desert, like the shortage of supportive employment services for non-student youth and adults with disabilities, by broadening programs for all students.

While she had initially primarily worked with students with disabilities, she saw
a need to link “disconnected youth” with work experience opportunities. Instead of limiting services to students with disabilities, she has actively pursued opportunities to expand services to non-student youth with adverse life situations such as being unhoused, a foster youth or a pregnant minor.

Her CTE team, together, nominated Shepherd-Myles for her leadership and thoughtful guidance.