Dr. Shannan Catherine Mason is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the History Department at the University of Missouri. Her research specializes in 18th century Colonial American and Atlantic history, particularly focusing on the botanical contributions of John Bartram and their impact on the early American economy and political landscape. Her dissertation, titled "Reciprocities Market: John Bartram’s 18th Century Botanical Subscription Service and the Seeds of Independence," examines the interplay between communication networks, patronage systems, and the rise of the consumer market during the revolutionary period.

Mason earned her Doctorate of Philosophy in History in August 2024 and a GIS Graduate Certification from the University of Missouri in May of 2024. She holds an M.A. in Historical Studies and a Museum Studies Graduate Certification from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where she completed a B.S. in Historical Studies alongside a minor in Psychology.

Her academic work has been recognized with several awards and further supported by fellowships from notable institutions such as the Huntington Library & Gardens, the American Philosophical Society, Winterthur Museum and Library, and Florida Atlantic University Libraries. Dr. Mason has contributed to several academic publications and educational resources, notably an introduction and annotations for a reprinting of George Lippard’s The Legends of Mexico and contributed to the first and second editions of the AP American history textbook, Fabric of a Nation by Stacy and Ellington, Bedford Freeman and Worth Publishing.

Mason has extensive teaching experience and designed and taught a variety of courses ranging from foundational American and Western history surveys to advanced seminars on early modern Europe and workshops in digital humanities. She deploys innovative approaches in the classroom, and integrates material culture analysis, text analysis, and geographical information systems to enrich the learning experience while developing stronger analytical and technical skills.