A little more about me / Shannea Minell Santiago
Hi, I'm Shannea.
I'm someone who loves connecting with people, getting creative, and turning a good idea into something real.
I graduated cum laude from Pacific Union College with a B.S. in Strategic Communication and a certificate in Conflict Resolution. I'm especially interested in brand marketing, partnerships and activations, public relations, and the kind of communication that makes people feel connected.
01 / My story
Taking my own path.
I was born in the Philippines and moved to California when I was seven. Growing up between two cultures taught me to appreciate different perspectives, find common ground, and connect with all kinds of people. I think that's a big part of why I ended up loving communication so much.
Most of my immediate family went into the medical field, so choosing communications was definitely me taking a different route. I'm the first in my immediate family to pursue a career outside of healthcare, which meant figuring out a lot of it for myself. It was a little scary, but also exciting to find something that felt like me.
But I knew I wanted to do something that combined creativity, strategy, and working with people. Choosing Strategic Communication gave me room to explore all three. It taught me that I don't have to follow the same path as everyone around me to build something meaningful.
I have so much respect for what my family does. I just knew I wanted to make my own way. If anything, taking a different path taught me to be curious, put myself out there, and trust that I can figure things out as I go.
02 / Along the way
Learning by doing.
A lot of my favorite college memories came from getting involved, meeting new people, and saying yes to opportunities I wasn't totally sure I was ready for yet.
Lambda Pi Eta — celebrating our communication honor society and the people I got to grow alongside.
Graduation day, with one of my favorite little supporters.
Learning from communicators and connecting with people beyond campus.
During college, I served as president of the Communication Club and Lambda Pi Eta, our communication honor society. As Communication Club president, I helped grow our community from around 10–15 members to roughly 60–70. Between planning events, reaching out to people, and making sure everyone felt welcome, I realized how much I enjoy creating experiences that bring people together.
03 / What I bring
Creative ideas. Real connection.
I love coming up with ideas, but I also love the behind-the-scenes part: bringing people together, planning the details, and actually making things happen.ctually work.
Bringing people together
Whether it's an event, a campus organization, or a team project, I like finding ways to make people feel included and excited to be part of something.
Turning ideas into plans
I enjoy brainstorming, but I also like figuring out the details—messaging, outreach, coordination, and what needs to happen next.
Thinking about the audience
My favorite question is: who are we trying to reach, and what would actually connect with them? That's what draws me to PR, brand campaigns, and partnerships.
Always learning
I'm early in my career, and I don't pretend to know everything. I'm excited to keep learning, take initiative, and grow alongside people who care about their work.
04 / Off the clock
There's more to me than my resume.
Outside of work, I’m usually spending time with family and friends, gaming, making content, reading a good book, singing (whether anyone asked me to or not), or figuring out my next trip, concert, or rave. And of course, I’m probably hanging out with my two dogs, Teemo and Gnari. Food-wise, I LOVE ramen, dim sum, hot pot, and sushi, but I’m pretty open to trying new things too!
I love making memories, but I’m just as happy having a chill night in with a book, a game, or some music. I think it’s important to make time for the little things that make life fun.
05 / What's next?
Still learning. Still growing. Just getting started.
I'm looking forward to building a career in communications, brand marketing, partnerships, and PR—and working with people who are just as excited about meaningful ideas as I am.