Dr. Shannon Bradshaw, an Olivet Nazarene University alumnus and vice president of education for MongoDB, Inc., is the keynote speaker for Olivet’s 104th undergraduate Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 6, at 9:30 a.m., in the University’s Betty and Kenneth Hawkins Centennial Chapel.
Dr. Bradshaw is a 1994 Olivet graduate who holds B.S., S.M. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science. At MongoDB — a software company dual-headquartered in New York City and Palo Alto, California — he leads a team of engineers responsible for MongoDB’s online training portal, mobile apps for learning, and MongoDB documentation, which together serve more than 4 million users. He is also the author of the forthcoming book from O’Reilly Media, MongoDB: The Definitive Guide, 3rd Edition.
Additionally, Dr. Bradshaw helps direct MongoDB’s involvement in New York City’s CS4All initiative to bring computer science education to all 1.1 million NYC public school students.
“Olivet Nazarene University provided me not only the foundation for a career in computer science, but also lasting relationships that have shaped who I am today,” Dr. Bradshaw says.
Dr. Larry Vail, computer science professor in Olivet’s Walker School of Engineering, is a person from whom Dr. Bradshaw regularly sought advice during his undergraduate years. “Dr. Vail always made time for discussion and even played on our intramural basketball team,” he recalls. “Over the years, he’s reached out to me at various points throughout my career — something I have always valued — both because of his insights and the care this demonstrates.”
“In so many ways, I continue to receive the benefits of my undergraduate education,” he adds. “It is an enormous honor be the keynote speaker for the 2017 Commencement.”
Prior to joining MongoDB, Dr. Bradshaw was associate professor and chair of computer science at Drew University. As an academic, he published research in the areas of information science and human-information interaction. This work was funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). While at Drew University, he also regularly consulted with Wall St. firms on information and data analytics projects.
Dr. Bradshaw grew up in Sterling, Illinois, and attended the Sterling First Church of the Nazarene. In August 2017, he and his wife, Anna (Quanstrom) ’96, will celebrate 20 years of marriage. They are the parents of three children: Sigourney, Graham and Beckett. Anna is a licensed social worker, currently practicing as a therapist in the Drug and Alcohol IOP at Summit Oaks Hospital in Summit, New Jersey.
During the undergraduate Commencement ceremony, several students and faculty members will receive special awards, and two honorary doctorate degrees will be presented.
Olivet’s School of Graduate and Continuing Studies will also conduct Commencement ceremonies in the chapel on May 6. That ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. and features the commencement address from Dr. John C. Bowling, University president. Student, faculty and dissertation awards will be presented.
