Shannon Smith, Author at FracTracker Alliance

About Shannon Smith

Shannon is the Executive Director for FracTracker, leading the organization's strategy and development efforts. She was previously in the role of Manager of Communications & Development at FracTracker.

Prior to joining FracTracker, Shannon spent nine years working in nonprofit management for various environmental public health nonprofits, including work in the Pacific Northwest, Pennsylvania, Tanzania, Venezuela, and St. Kitts. She spent five years living and working in Haiti as a communications and marketing advisor for a nonprofit focusing on ecological sanitation.

She has a bachelor's degree in Cultural Anthropology from Reed College. She also studied at the University of Havana and Sarah Lawrence College as part of her undergraduate program.

Shannon has a strong background in climate justice activism. While living in the Pacific Northwest, she organized under an environmental justice framework to resist proposed coal export terminals and institutional investments in fossil fuel companies.

Email: smith@fractracker.org

Entries by Shannon Smith

Environmental Health Fellowship Opening – Summer 2021

January 26, 2021/by Shannon Smith

This paid, remote fellowship will provide a graduate student with the opportunity to deepen their academic understanding of environmental issues affecting the heavily-fracked region of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The fellow will work in close collaboration with their FracTracker supervisor and their academic advisor. This position was developed in partnership with the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies […]

Straight Talk on the Future of Fracking Jobs in Pennsylvania

October 14, 2020/by Shannon Smith

Fracking has been raised as an issue that could determine the outcome of the 2020 US presidential election. Republican candidates have cited erroneous figures of how many fracking jobs exist in Pennsylvania, and have falsely claimed that Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris seek to ban fracking. And while the Democratic […]

Paid Data & GIS Internship Positions Available

October 2, 2020/by Shannon Smith

FracTracker internships are dedicated to current college and graduate students, as well as recent grads. Applicants should enjoy working with datasets, visualizations, and maps as well as analyzing and writing about oil, gas, and petrochemical issues. FracTracker is offering two paid internships from February 1 through April 23, 2020 in collaboration with the following offices: […]

Testimony to PA DEP on Control of Methane & VOC Emissions from Oil and Natural Gas Sources

June 29, 2020/by Shannon Smith

This testimony was provided by Shannon Smith, FracTracker Manager of Communications & Development, at the July 23rd hearing on the control of methane & VOC emissions from oil and natural gas sources hosted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). My name is Shannon Smith and I’m a resident of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. I am […]

COVID-19 and the oil & gas industry

March 24, 2020/by Shannon Smith

COVID-19 and the oil and gas industry are at odds. Air pollution created by oil and gas activities make people more vulnerable to viruses like COVID-19. Simultaneously, the economic impact of the pandemic is posing major challenges to oil and gas companies that were already struggling to meet their bottom line. In responding to these […]

House Bill 1100: What you need to know

March 5, 2020/by Shannon Smith

Pennsylvania’s House Bill 1100, sponsored by state Rep. Mike Turzai, has passed through the House and Senate with broad bipartisan support. If approved, the bill would provide billions of dollars in subsidies to energy and fertilizer companies that use fracked natural gas as feedstock. The Bill is part of “Energize PA,” a package of bills […]

2019 Community Sentinel Award nominations now being accepted

August 1, 2019/by Shannon Smith

Staff Spotlight: Shannon Smith

May 5, 2019/by Shannon Smith

As part of FracTracker’s staff spotlight series, learn more about Shannon and her passion for environmental justice and public health that led her to FracTracker Staff Spotlight: Shannon Smith Time with FracTracker: I just started in May 2019! Education: BA in Cultural Anthropology from Reed College in Portland, OR Office Location: Pittsburgh, PA Title: Manager of Communications […]