Staff Spotlight: Shana Feeley, GVUSA Administrative Coordinator

Shana is a passionate advocate for social change, both within the US and abroad. After earning her degree in communications, she found her calling in nonprofit work, focusing on public health, disability, and education. Understanding the resource constraints that come with nonprofit life, Shana brings an efficiency-driven mindset to everything she does, always looking for ways to improve processes and maximize impact. A natural problem-solver and resourceful thinker, she is at her best when her work directly helps others.

We caught up with her for a quick Q&A:

Q: What excites and inspires you most about GoodVision’s mission?

A: “I have always been drawn to work where resources are limited but the potential for change is enormous. GoodVision embodies that. Every pair of glasses represents someone whose life looks a little different and better because of this mission. That never gets old.”

Q: What’s been a highlight of your time with GVUSA so far?

A: “Honestly, the people. Getting to collaborate with the GoodVision communications team and build relationships with colleagues from all over the world has been a highlight I didn’t fully anticipate. There is something special about being part of a team that spans continents, united by the same mission. It has been both humbling and energizing.”

Q: What keeps you inspired to support this work?

A: “The stories. Behind every statistic is a real person whose life changed because they can now see clearly. That is not abstract to me and is the whole reason I do this kind of work.”

Q: What are the strengths, skills, and experiences that you bring to GVUSA to advance our mission?

A: “My background in communications and nonprofit work has given me a strong foundation for this kind of mission-driven environment. I understand how to tell a story that moves people, and I know how to do it with limited resources. Beyond that, I have spent my career learning how to do more with less, looking at challenges from multiple angles and finding practical, people-centered solutions. I also bring a genuine passion for public health and disability equity, which means this work is never just a job to me.”

Q: What’s a fun fact people might not know about you?

A: “I’ve been a vegetarian for over 30 years, rooted in a deep love of animals and nature. Outside of work, you’ll find me happiest in the woods or at the ocean, where I feel most at home and recharged. I also draw, focusing on realistic graphite work as a way to slow down and find quiet. Nature, animals, and art are my reset buttons.”

Q: What’s a favorite book, podcast, or quote that inspires you?

A: “There is a quote I come back to often: “Nothing in nature lives for itself. Rivers don’t drink their own water. Trees don’t eat their own fruit. The sun doesn’t give heat for itself. Flowers don’t spread fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. And therein lies the secret of life.” It has been attributed to many people over the years and belongs to none of them. Maybe that is part of why it resonates.”