Meet Shannan Smith, CCCTU's New Classified VP

Our newly elected union officers began their three-year term on June 15th. We are pleased to welcome several new Chapter Chairs, many new House Delegates, and a new Classified Vice President, Shannan Smith. Shannan brings 26 years of experience at South Suburban College to her new role as Classified VP of CCCTU. Her path to local-wide leadership is rooted in something simple: showing up for people.

By day, Shannan works as a Student Specialist in the Services for Students with Disabilities Office, a position she has held for 12 years. But for the past decade, she has also served as a Chapter Leader, a role that shaped how she thinks about advocacy, trust, and what workers deserve.

"One of my proudest accomplishments is building trust with our members by being accessible, responsive, and committed to protecting their contractual rights," Shannan said. Over the years, she has represented our members through grievances, disciplinary matters, and workplace concerns, and she has worked to strengthen communication between the union and its members. For her, the goal has always been the same: making sure employees understand and feel empowered to exercise their rights under the collective bargaining agreement.

Now, as Classified VP, Shannan is ready to take that work local-wide. She hopes to continue supporting chapter leaders and ensure that the concerns of classified employees are heard and addressed at the local level. "Becoming a local-wide officer gives me the opportunity to advocate for the classified division on a broader level, collaborate with leaders from other chapters, and help develop strategies that benefit all members," she said.

Shannan is also clear about why union membership matters. "Members who are actively engaged strengthen the union," she said. "CCCTU provides experienced representation, training, organizing, advocacy, and a collective voice in workplace decisions. Membership means you don't have to face workplace challenges alone."

We are thrilled to welcome Shannan to local-wide leadership. Congratulations, Shannan!

Classified VP Shannan Smith (left) with South Suburban Faculty Chair Jamie Welling and Former Adjunct Chair Vernita Wickliffe-Lewis during a groundbreaking at South Suburban College.