Shannon Speed

Shannon Speed is a fitness enthusiast. The longtime certified personal trainer, fitness instructor, and yogi was fortunate to grow up with parents who valued movement and healthy lifestyles. Her mom was a fitness instructor, and her dad, a runner.   

“Health has always been an integral part of my life and identity, and it’s helped me succeed in everything,” she said. “I can tell when I don’t have that outlet, I don’t flourish as much, so I practice what I preach.”

That evolved in college as Speed pivoted from law school aspirations to pursue a career in higher education centered on health and wellness.

She’s now joining the University of Delaware College of Health Sciences as an assistant professor of health behavior and nutrition sciences.

“This position encompasses all of the different attributes of my career and was a perfect fit for me,” said Speed, a Dover, Delaware native. “UD is booming, especially in the health sciences. The STAR Campus is amazing, and it’s such a pivotal time for the Department of Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences, so I’m excited to join them.” 

Speed obtained her bachelor’s degree in political science and mass communication from Townson University. After obtaining a master of public administration from Old Dominion University, Speed decided to pursue more experience and education in the world of public health. She got her master of science in kinesiology and public health and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and public health, with specializations in statistics and college-level teaching, from Miami University in Ohio. There, she served in several roles, including assistant director of fitness and wellness and visiting instructor in the Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Public Health. Speed went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship in a co-funded Translational Addiction Medicine Branch Lab with the National Institutes of Drug Abuse and the National Institutes of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

She most recently worked for the Maryland Department of Health as a heart disease and diabetes team manager, overseeing grant funding to support diabetes education, management, and combat obesity.

This fall, Speed will teach Health Behavior Theories and Models and Development of Health Promotion Programs. She’s also looking forward to working on the academic side of UD’s Health Coaching Clinic.

“I want to increase the accessibility and outreach of the program,” said Speed. “I’ve already had several conversations with graduate students about the role they can play in the research component of the clinic. As the program grows, the need for faculty to be involved in students’ research will increase, so I see a lot of collaborative opportunities here.”

While attending school full-time to obtain advanced degrees, Speed worked full-time in the health and fitness world, helping various populations from youth to aging adults. That challenge gave her a perspective she takes into the classroom.

“As a nontraditional student, I encountered barriers to success, and I overcame those barriers. But I learned my work was better when I had accommodating people in my life,” she said. “Going back to school later in life can be overwhelming. Now, as a professor, I strive to create classes that are both informative and accommodating of life’s circumstances because I want my students to succeed.”

Speed lives in Baltimore with her husband, who’s a UD alumnus. They enjoy walking along the Inner Harbor, taking trips to Ocean City, Maryland, and all things fitness.

“I am happiest in the water; I love the ocean,” she said.

Speed also enjoys reading thrillers, watching horror movies, and DIY home improvement projects.