When Shannon “Mac” McNamara made the decision to start over, she didn’t know exactly where that path would lead. What she did know was that she was ready to build something — something bold, something purposeful, something that reflected who she really was.
Originally from upstate New York, Mac had already served as an Intelligence Specialist in the U.S. Naval Reserves and worked in government contracting as an imagery analyst. But during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, she took a leap of faith and enrolled at the University of Maine at Augusta to pursue her passion for architecture and art history.
“I was drawn to UMA because of the flexibility and focus on real-world learning,” Mac said. “It gave me the opportunity to start fresh, and to do it on my own terms.”
That fresh start quickly evolved into something remarkable.
At UMA, Mac has thrived as both a student and a leader. She served as President of UMA’s chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students, representing the university at national conferences and advocating for student voices — especially those from smaller, more intimate programs like UMA’s. Through her leadership, Mac helped shape a more inclusive and engaging experience for future architecture students.
Her academic achievements are just as impressive. In 2023, she earned top honors at UMA’s Student Research Conference, winning both the Top Presentation Award and the Top Qualitative Research Award for a paper exploring the portrayal of the female nude in art history and its ties to modern sexual assault culture. Her faculty mentor, art historian Dr. Amy Rahn, described her as “an outstanding researcher, writer, thinker, and community member; someone with both brilliance and generosity of spirit.”
But Mac’s impact extends beyond accolades. She embodies UMA’s mission to meet students where they are and help them grow into who they’re meant to be. Her story reflects the university’s belief in transformation, civic engagement, and the power of accessible education. She’s the kind of student who uses every opportunity — not just to advance her own future, but to uplift others.