14th Annual UNCF Mayor’s Luncheon – Columbus, OH

Shannon Taylor brings more than 25 years of experience in education, college access and community partnership building to her work supporting UNCF’s mission. A native of Dayton, OH with deep roots across Ohio and Kentucky, she has dedicated her career to expanding opportunity and strengthening the institutions that serve underrepresented students.

Shannon joins UNCF after serving as Assistant Director of Development at I Know I Can, the largest college access organization in Central Ohio. In this role, she led fundraising initiatives, cultivated corporate and foundation partnerships and helped expand postsecondary opportunities for thousands of students. She also played a central role in the launch and implementation of the HBCU Special Founders Scholarship, an initiative established in 2018; designed to remove financial barriers for Columbus City Schools graduates attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In 2025, she secured six HBCU Special Founders, the largest number awarded in a single year, demonstrating her commitment to advancing equity through meaningful partnerships.

Before stepping into development leadership, Shannon spent more than two decades in K-12 and college access building programs and serving in multiple capacities. Most notably, she was a key leader in I Know I Can’s work on the Columbus Promise Scholarship Program. This program, a multi-organization partnership; provides eligible graduates of Columbus City Schools with tuition-free pathways to a degree or credential. Her experience guiding complex initiatives and building sustainable educational pipelines uniquely positions her to advance UNCF’s mission across Ohio and Kentucky.

A proud graduate of Kentucky State University, Shannon is a longtime advocate for HBCUs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Science in Science Education from Walden University. She is also a certified 500 HR Yoga Teacher and focuses her work on advancing physical and mental wellness in marginalized communities. Shannon is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Shannon lives in Columbus with her husband Sean, where they’ve raised their two children, Camden and Kennedy and 3 beloved pups.

Mayor Andrew J. Ginther is serving his third term as the 53rd mayor of the City of Columbus, Ohio. He previously served on Columbus City Council from 2007-15, and was president of Council from 2011 until assuming the Office of the Mayor on January 1, 2016. Under his leadership, Columbus has been named “America’s Opportunity City” while setting new records for job creation and population growth.

Mayor Ginther is uniquely committed to working with community, business, and faith and labor leaders to promote equitable opportunities for every Columbus resident. Signature initiatives include launching the Comprehensive Neighborhood Safety Strategy to reduce violent crime while realizing the most significant policing reforms in city history, such as civilian oversight of police and deploying body-worn camera technology; reducing infant mortality; expanding universal pre-kindergarten; creating the city’s first-ever Office of Diversity and Inclusion and appointing the city’s most diverse mayoral leadership cabinet; forming the Columbus Women’s Commission to advance the well-being of women in the workplace; and establishing the Department of Neighborhoods to lead community-driven investments for revitalization.

Acknowledging mobility as the great equalizer, Mayor Ginther is working to provide reliable, consistent transportation options so that all Columbus residents have convenient, equitable access to jobs, education and health care. During his first year in office, the city was awarded the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Smart City Challenge Grant, making Columbus America’s “Smart City.”

A proud graduate of Columbus City Schools, Mayor Ginther was originally elected to the Columbus Board of Education in 2001 and re-elected in 2005 before joining Council. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Earlham College, studied abroad at the University of Ulster and Queen’s College in Northern Ireland, and taught at public schools in Belfast and Derry. He also completed consecutive internships at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, where he taught non-violence and dispute resolution.

Mayor Ginther, his wife – Shannon – and their daughter live in Columbus.

Rodney Dunigan is an accomplished journalist with experience as an anchor, reporter, and producer. He currently serves as Evening Managing Editor and Anchor at WSYX ABC 6 in Columbus, where he helps lead newsroom coverage with a strong emphasis on accountability reporting. Viewers can watch Rodney weeknights on ABC 6 News at 6, 7, and 11, as well as FOX 28 News at 10.

Rodney’s exclusive interviews and impactful reporting have played a key role in strengthening WSYX’s position as a market leader. His leadership and journalistic excellence earned him selection to Sinclair Broadcast Group’s Emerging Leaders Program, a competitive initiative designed to prepare high-potential newsroom managers for executive leadership.

Before arriving in Columbus, Rodney worked as a reporter at WFTS-TV in Tampa, Florida, where he also served as a Scripps Leadership Champion and a member of the station’s ethics committee. He previously held the role of morning anchor at WATN in Memphis, Tennessee, and has worked in newsrooms in Nashville, Dayton, and Jackson, Mississippi.

Throughout his career, Rodney has received multiple Associated Press and Emmy Awards, and has been part of award-winning news teams recognized for overall excellence. His work has also been featured in publications including The Communicator and Nashville’s SixFifteen Magazine.

Rodney is a graduate of Tougaloo College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with an emphasis in journalism.

Beyond the newsroom, Rodney is deeply committed to community service, particularly youth engagement. He has partnered with local school districts, volunteered as a Big Brother with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and serves as Service Coordinator for WSYX, helping lead station-wide volunteer efforts across Central Ohio. In recognition of his community leadership, Iota Phi Lambda Business & Professional Sorority honored him as one of its Outstanding Business Leaders.

Rodney was also selected as a NABJ Leadership Academy Mentee, a program that prepares journalists and media managers for advancement into executive leadership roles.

A native of Chicago, Rodney is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Outside of work, he is an avid runner who has completed several full and half marathons. His greatest pride is being a devoted father to his young daughter and son.