Shannon McCracken-Barber Named Project Director of Manchester CREATES Workforce Development Initiative

Shannon McCracken-Barber has been named project director for Manchester CREATES, a new workforce development Initiative being launched at UNH Manchester.

The program is focused on cultivating interest and expertise in biomedical science, research and technology among middle and high school students and teachers in the greater Manchester region. It is an extension of NH CREATES, a comprehensive initiative initially launched on the UNH Durham campus in 2020. 

Manchester CREATES is supported by funds from a Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, which was awarded to a coalition led by the City of Manchester last year. The goal is to help address current and future workforce needs in New Hampshire’s rapidly growing regenerative medicine and biofabrication industries through an array of free educational programs for students and teachers. 

In her role as program director, McCracken-Barber will provide overall direction and ongoing operational support for Manchester CREATES. Working in collaboration with the NH CREATES leadership team in Durham, she will also forge and maintain relationships with UNH Manchester faculty and staff, teachers and administrators in the Manchester school district and representatives from New Hampshire’s growing biotech industry.

A former high school STEAM teacher in Farmington and Tilton, McCracken-Barber attended the UNH Tech for Teachers Institute in 2020 and has taught in related NH CREATES summer programs on the Durham campus ever since.

In addition to her work as an educator, McCracken-Barber is the founder of the New Hampshire Renaissance Faire, an annual charity event that she owned and managed from 2005-2011. She also previously ran two online businesses as a fine artist — one featuring her costume accessories and the other, her handmade jewelry.

A resident of Farmington, McCracken-Barber holds an M.A.T. from Plymouth State University and a B.F.A. from the Maine College of Art. Her office is located on the sixth floor of the Pandora Mill Building at UNH Manchester. She can be reached at: shannon.mccrackenbarber@unh.edu.