Shannon O'brien
About Shannon O'brien
Shannon O'Brien is the Director of UX Research at Thomson Reuters, where she leads teams to integrate user feedback into product development. With a background that includes roles at NASA, Verizon Labs, and CSIRO, she specializes in Research Operations to improve the efficiency of UX researchers.
Current Role at Thomson Reuters
Shannon O'Brien currently serves as the Director of UX Research at Thomson Reuters. In this role, she leads UX research teams, focusing on integrating user feedback throughout all phases of product development, from discovery to testing. She has held this position since 2023.
Previous Experience at Thomson Reuters
Shannon O'Brien has extensive experience at Thomson Reuters, having worked in various roles over multiple years. She served as Senior Manager of UX Research from 2018 to 2022, Manager of User Experience Research from 2012 to 2018, and as a User Experience Specialist from 2008 to 2010. Additionally, she worked as a Senior User Experience Specialist from 2010 to 2012 and briefly as a Sr. Manager, UX Research Infrastructure and Strategy in 2022.
Internships at NASA-JPL
Shannon O'Brien completed two internships at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The first internship took place in 2004 for three months, followed by a second internship in 2003, also lasting three months. These experiences contributed to her foundational knowledge in research and user experience.
Educational Background
Shannon O'Brien studied at Carnegie Mellon University, where she earned a Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (MHCI) from 2004 to 2005. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science and Mathematics from Carroll College, which she completed from 2000 to 2004.
Teaching Experience
Shannon O'Brien has experience in academia as an adjunct professor at Metropolitan State University. She taught UX-related courses from 2017 to 2021 in the Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area, contributing to the education of future UX professionals.