Shannon ‘Nyn’ McAllister (she/her) is a PhD student and Vanier Scholar at the School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Simon Fraser University, under the supervision of Dr. Sheelagh Carpendale. She is a member of the Innovis research group and Interactive Experiences Lab (ixLab).
A research librarian and certified digital archivist, Shannon is the Manager, Research Data, Collections, and Digital Services at the Arctic Institute of North America, University of Calgary. In this role, Shannon also serves as the Coordinator for the Canadian Polar Data Consortium, Co-Chair of the Polar Observing Assets working group, and Vice-Lead of the University of the Arctic Thematic Network on Decolonization of Arctic Library and Archives Metadata (DALAM).
Shannon is a poet, artist, maker, and puppet nerd with a penchant for the Victorian gothic, folklore, and fairy tales. She makes her home in Moh’kins’tsis (Calgary, Canada) with her partner, Carl, and three children. She can often be found crafting and singing songs about her dogs.
Affiliations
- PhD Student. School of Interactive Arts & Technology, Simon Fraser University. 2024- Present.
- Manager, Research Data, Collections, & Digital Services. Arctic Institute of North America, University of Calgary. 2013-Present.
- Coordinator. Canadian Polar Data Consortium. 2024-Present.
- Co-Chair. Polar Observing Assets Working Group (POAwg). 2023-Present.
- Vice-Lead. University of the Arctic Thematic Network on Decolonization of Arctic Library and Archives Metadata (DALAM). 2022-Present.
- Advisory Board Member. Polar Data Journal. 2019-Present.
- Member. Vocabularies and Semantics Working Group, Arctic Data Committee. 2018-Present.
- Institutional Representative. Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks & International Arctic Science Committee’s Arctic Data Committee. 2015-Present.
- Web Developer. Polar Libraries Colloquy. 2014-Present.
- Member, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). 2026-Present.
- Member, Canadian Academy of Mask & Puppetry. 2026-Present.
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy in Interactive Arts and Technology, in progress, School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Simon Fraser University (2024-)
- Master of Library and Information Studies, first class standing, School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alberta (ALA-accredited), 2005
- Bachelor of Arts in English with distinction, University of Calgary, 1999
- Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with distinction, University of Calgary, 1999
Professional Credentials
- Digital Archives Specialist (DAS) certificate, Society of American Archives, current to January 2027
- Creative Writing certificate, University of Calgary Continuing Education, 2024
- Indigenous Canada massive open online course e-certificate, University of Alberta, 2020
- User Experience Design, University of Calgary Continuing Education, 2019
- UFundamentals Managerial Leadership Certificate, University of Calgary, 2014
- Becoming a Master Instructor (BMI) – Level 1, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), 2011
- Level 1 Daycare Certification, Government of Alberta, 2003
Awards, Grants, and Scholarships
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. SSHRC stream. $50,000/year for 3 years. 2025.
- Faculty of Communication, Art, & Technology Graduate Fellowship. $3,500. 2025-2026.
- PhD Research Scholarship. $3,672. 2025-2026.
- Faculty of Communication, Art, & Technology Graduate Fellowship. $3,500. 2024-2025.
- PhD Research Scholarship. $6,058. 2024-2025.
- Soper’s World: A Journey into the Canadian Arctic through Art. University of Calgary Libraries: Academic Research and University Libraries: A New Model for Collaboration, Mellon Foundation Sub Grant. Collaborator. PI: Maribeth Murray. Significant contribution to proposal and deliverables. $39,203.00. 2018.
- Canadian Consortium for Arctic Data Interoperability: Advancing Arctic Research through Connected Data Infrastructure. Canadian Foundation for Innovation Cyberinfrastructure: Challenge 1 – competition 2. Collaborator. PI: Maribeth Murray. $5,000,000. 2017.
- ArcticConnect – a Network-Enabled Platform for Arctic Research and Information Sharing. CANARIE Research Middleware Program. Collaborator. PI: Maribeth Murray & Steve Liang. $500,000. 2014.
- Proposal to Improve Access to Nunavut Monitoring Information Using the Nunavut Database. Nunavut General Monitoring Program Gap-Filling and Data Development Projects 2013-2014. PI: Shannon Vossepoel. $74,300. 2013.
- Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Library Service. Brooks Public Library. 2010.
- Alberta Library Trustees Association Award of Excellence. Brooks Public Library Board. 2009.
- Central School Character in the Community Award. Brooks Public Library. 2008-2009.
- First Class Standing, Library and Information Studies. 2005.
- Province of Alberta Graduate Scholarship. $6,200. 2004-2005.
- H.W. Wilson Award in Library and Information Studies. $1,200. 2004-2005.
- NEOS Collection Development Scholarship Winner. $200 and conference attendance. 2004.
- University of Alberta Graduate Assistantship, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. $2,886. 2004-2005.
- Miss Lesley Heathcote Graduate Scholarship in Library and Information Studies. $6,500. 2003-2004.
- University of Alberta Graduate Assistantship, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. $2,286. 2003-2004.
- University of Alberta Graduate Intern Tuition Supplement, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. $2,185. 2003-2004.
- Dean’s List, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Calgary. 1999.
- Dean’s List, Faculty of Arts, University of Calgary. 1999.
- Louise McKinney/Alberta Heritage Scholarship. $1,500. 1998-1999.
- University of Calgary Undergraduate Merit Award. $200. 1998-1999
- Judith Sloman Memorial Scholarship in Women’s Studies and Eighteenth Century Literature. $700. 1997-1998.
- Student Peer Assistance Undergraduate Bursary. $600. 1997-1998.