Piedmont Profile: Shana Fabio

Antonia Florence, staff writer

Shana Fabio, born in Monterey, California, is a self-described army brat who moved seven times by the age of 13. Her first move occurred at 10 months of age across the country to West Point, New York. “My first years were filled with military parades, skiing, weekends of football and lacrosse events, and sitting on historic cannons overlooking the Hudson River for firework displays,” said Fabio.

Fabio’s second move at the age of five was to Ft. Riley, Kansas, where her family’s living quarters were within walking distance of Colonel Custer’s house. She learned from the older children that if she was caught there after dark, Custer’s ghost would get her!

Fabio moved within Virginia twice and then to Grosse Pointe, Michigan, where her life changed. It was her first experience living with a defined line between wealthy and poor areas.

“I experienced my first ‘mean girls’ who completely judged you for what you wore and possessed. You were told not to hang out with the kids that lived across Mack Avenue because that was Detroit,” Fabio said. This is where she was raped.

She did not tell anyone about the rape for almost two years. “It nearly killed me. It wasn’t an easy go- years of therapy. I did a lot of good things once I turned the corner and saw myself as a survivor, not a victim. I created support programs for both victims/survivors and for parents/friends in NOVA,” said Fabio. She had moved to Northern Virginia shortly after her horrible experience.

She found when people share their experiences, they learn from and can help each other. After a while, Fabio needed to step back from that community. She had come to the realization that being a victim of rape does not define her, but instead, it is a piece of who she is as a survivor. “It absolutely has changed my view of life. When you survive a life threatening event you never look at things the same way. You can’t. I have always been strong; now I’m even more so,” continues Fabio.

After living in Baltimore and several Virginia localities, she settled in Crozet with her husband and stepson. She enjoys living in this area where the people are warm and the food and music are great, according to Fabio. Her twenty-year-old son lives in Texas.

Fabio formerly worked in the financial market where her responsibilities included analysis, technical writing and programing. One project converted US financial software applications to French and Spanish, for an expansion into Canada and Mexico, respectively. Then in 2007 the market crashed.

She accepted a position with Live Nation which began as Musictoday in Crozet. She learned about web development and e-commerce while also becoming a client manager for many artists. Since then, she was the Technology Manager for NC Virtual Public Schools and fulfilled a two-year STEM grant.

Fabio’s current position is in management. “What I love most about my job is getting to work with incredible, talented people and learn about new technologies,” said Fabio.

With a job she loves and a wonderful support system, the time is right for her to return to school. She is taking her fourth class this semester as she works toward her associate degree in General Studies.

Fabio has also had strong support from advisors and professors and feels PVCC is a great community. She said, “I may be one of the oldest in a class, yet I am surrounded by like minds who have a goal to achieve. You can feel that energy when you come on campus. Everyone is working toward something.”