Meet OUR Team
Brook, Shannon, and Liza at Take Back The Night 2023 (Photo Credit: Molly Adams, Lawrence Times)
Executive Director, Founder of #BeMoreLikeClaire
Shannon VanLandingham
execdirector@bemorelikeclaire.org
Shannon brings a lifetime of experience in leadership and non-profit volunteering. Throughout her life she has served as a trainer, facilitator, and educator, while organizing leadership programs, planning events, and honing her skills in fundraising for good causes. She loves her family and friends, music, big laughs, and finding the right person for the job. Working to continue her daughter's legacy of love and service is helping her find healing for her shattered heart.
Shannon VanLandingham
execdirector@bemorelikeclaire.org
Shannon brings a lifetime of experience in leadership and non-profit volunteering. Throughout her life she has served as a trainer, facilitator, and educator, while organizing leadership programs, planning events, and honing her skills in fundraising for good causes. She loves her family and friends, music, big laughs, and finding the right person for the job. Working to continue her daughter's legacy of love and service is helping her find healing for her shattered heart.
Community Outreach and Social Media Coordinator
Liza Gant, outreach@bemorelikeclaire.org
While not the founder of #BeMoreLikeClaire, Outreach Coordinator Liza Gant likes to think of herself as one of the originators of the concept. Five years her junior, Liza idolized her cousin Claire from a young age and acted as her second shadow for the majority of her childhood. Liza continues to be inspired by her cousin and is in her second year as a non-traditional student pursuing a degree in psychology. She plans to attend grad school and eventually work as a therapist for teens and young adults. Liza is passionate about all forms of interpersonal violence prevention, and is "super jazzed" about the expansion of Claire's Community.
Liza Gant, outreach@bemorelikeclaire.org
While not the founder of #BeMoreLikeClaire, Outreach Coordinator Liza Gant likes to think of herself as one of the originators of the concept. Five years her junior, Liza idolized her cousin Claire from a young age and acted as her second shadow for the majority of her childhood. Liza continues to be inspired by her cousin and is in her second year as a non-traditional student pursuing a degree in psychology. She plans to attend grad school and eventually work as a therapist for teens and young adults. Liza is passionate about all forms of interpersonal violence prevention, and is "super jazzed" about the expansion of Claire's Community.
Prevention Specialist
Brooklynn Sumonja
prevention@bemorelikeclaire.org
A Lawrence native and Communications major at the University of Kansas, Brooklynn is eager to be a part of #BeMoreLikeClaire as the organization’s Prevention Education Coordinator. Having served in the Air National Guard as a Public Affairs Specialist since 2018, Brooklynn brings a myriad of leadership, content creation, project management, event planning and community outreach experiences to the organization. She has a great appreciation for contemporary art and enjoys writing poetry. Her other passions include fashion, sneakers, sports and travel. Brooklynn strives to build integrative and long-lasting relationships to foster mentorship and education through serving others.
Brooklynn Sumonja
prevention@bemorelikeclaire.org
A Lawrence native and Communications major at the University of Kansas, Brooklynn is eager to be a part of #BeMoreLikeClaire as the organization’s Prevention Education Coordinator. Having served in the Air National Guard as a Public Affairs Specialist since 2018, Brooklynn brings a myriad of leadership, content creation, project management, event planning and community outreach experiences to the organization. She has a great appreciation for contemporary art and enjoys writing poetry. Her other passions include fashion, sneakers, sports and travel. Brooklynn strives to build integrative and long-lasting relationships to foster mentorship and education through serving others.
Development Coordinator
Anna Kraxner, anna@bemorelikeclaire.org
Anna is a highly experienced and accredited grant writer. She earned dual degrees in Creative Writing and Communications in 1998 at the University of Kansas, and completed basic grants training with The Grantsmanship Center, Inc. where she learned how to win funds for nonprofit organizations by writing award-worthy grants. As the first full-time grantsman at KU Endowment Association, Anna established grant processes and earned many writing awards from multiple universities and organizations. She developed and taught a Grants 101 course for UMKC’s community education program for several years and has served as a proposal evaluator for the U.S. Government. She also took extensive Trauma Informed Care training and became a certified teacher for Newhouse Domestic Violence Shelter while working there as Grant Administrator. Anna is a 50-year semi-professional violinist and enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grandson Milo.
Anna Kraxner, anna@bemorelikeclaire.org
Anna is a highly experienced and accredited grant writer. She earned dual degrees in Creative Writing and Communications in 1998 at the University of Kansas, and completed basic grants training with The Grantsmanship Center, Inc. where she learned how to win funds for nonprofit organizations by writing award-worthy grants. As the first full-time grantsman at KU Endowment Association, Anna established grant processes and earned many writing awards from multiple universities and organizations. She developed and taught a Grants 101 course for UMKC’s community education program for several years and has served as a proposal evaluator for the U.S. Government. She also took extensive Trauma Informed Care training and became a certified teacher for Newhouse Domestic Violence Shelter while working there as Grant Administrator. Anna is a 50-year semi-professional violinist and enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grandson Milo.
Claire's Community Coordinator
Micki Chestnut
clairescommunity@bemorelikeclaire.org
Micki has spent her career in strategic communications. Through her boutique communications, she had the opportunity to write for magazines, co-author three books, write a nationally syndicated column, and help a host of companies and nonprofit organizations with their strategic communications goals. She has also worked in communications at the University of Kansas Endowment Association, served as the communications director for the United Way of Douglas County, and as a marketing strategist for the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research. Micki’s other passions include hiking, adventures with friends, travel, and community volunteerism, including working as an animal-assisted therapy team with her standard poodle, Daisy. She and her husband, Rob, are college sweethearts and have three children, Spencer, Connor and Madeline.
Micki Chestnut
clairescommunity@bemorelikeclaire.org
Micki has spent her career in strategic communications. Through her boutique communications, she had the opportunity to write for magazines, co-author three books, write a nationally syndicated column, and help a host of companies and nonprofit organizations with their strategic communications goals. She has also worked in communications at the University of Kansas Endowment Association, served as the communications director for the United Way of Douglas County, and as a marketing strategist for the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research. Micki’s other passions include hiking, adventures with friends, travel, and community volunteerism, including working as an animal-assisted therapy team with her standard poodle, Daisy. She and her husband, Rob, are college sweethearts and have three children, Spencer, Connor and Madeline.
