Staff
Shannon Kennedy
Executive Director
director@kyea.org
Shannon has worked in the Topeka non-profit area for the last 10 years with primarily a focus on child welfare and advocacy, enabling her to contribute to improving the lives of children in need and continuing with her personal mission of making a difference in the lives of others. Prior to moving to Topeka, Shannon worked in IT as a project manager in the engineering industry which helped equip her with strong organization and managerial skills.
Shannon’s passion is working to make resources and knowledge available for families and children with disabilities. She works to raise awareness, advocate for rights, and provide resources and support to improve the day-to-day quality of life of all those affected by a disability.
In her personal life, Shannon has two boys that she loves spending time and energy with, a partner Jay and a small army of cats, dogs, chickens, and rabbits. As a family they love to explore the state and find lots of lakes, ponds, streams and rivers to throw rocks in.
Carrie Greenwood
Program Coordinator
carrieg@kyea.org
Carrie has been the Program Coordinator for KYEA since January of 2009. She previously served as the Outreach Coordinator and has been with KYEA since its creation in 2005. Carrie attended the first ever Kansas Youth Leadership Forum in 2001 and this started her on a new path of empowerment, leadership, and serving as a role model where she has not turned back since! She has a passion for promoting diversity, empowerment, and education amongst ALL people, especially youth and women with disabilities. She expresses her passion through her job at KYEA, as well as her volunteer activities. Carrie has had the opportunity to attend national and local conferences and speak to over 500 groups about disability-related and empowerment topics. She held the title of Ms. Wheelchair Kansas 2004 and has served as the volunteer state coordinator of this program for the past 19 years. She also served as the Treasurer for the Ms. Wheelchair America Board of Directors for 12 years. She holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in Design Technology from Washburn University in Topeka. In her free time, Carrie enjoys listening to music, volunteering at her church, reading a good fiction book, shopping, and spending time with friends and family.
Johnna Godinez
Administrative Assistant
johnnag@kyea.org
Johnna currently serves as the Administrative Assistant for KYEA. She previously served as our Program Assistant, a VISTA program support person, and Fundraising Coordinator, and has been with KYEA since April of 2010. Johnna has a Master's Degree (2000) in Early-Child Special Education from the University of Kansas and a Bachelors of Science (1995) in Elementary Education from Baker University. She has taught first grade in Kansas City, taught Road to Success classes, and was an Independent Living Specialist at the Resource Center for Independent Living. She has passionately volunteered for 23 years at the Kansas Youth Leadership Forum, volunteers at her church, and previously was in the Lawrence Civic Choir. Johnna has three nephews and two nieces who think her visual disability is really cool, and she has taught them that it is absolutely okay to be different.
Kirstianna Guerrero
Program Assistant
kirstiannag@kyea.org
Kirstianna has been the Program Assistant for KYEA since January 2024, previously serving as the Administrative Assistant in 2023. She is a 2018 KSYLF Alumna. There she was first introduced to the disability community and all that being a leader could look like, which inspired her to become an active part of her community. She is an Alumna of Faces of Change 2019-2020 where she discovered her passion for self-love. In realizing the difference that embracing every part of who she is has made in her life, she wants to encourage everyone to love who they are and live authentically. She was crowned Kansas Miss Amazing Teen 2020 where she had the opportunity to grow in her public speaking skills as she shared her passions with others; was crowned National Miss Amazing Teen 2020; and is currently the Assistant Director of Kansas Miss Amazing. She organized the first Disabled and Proud Parade of Kansas in July 2022 and hopes to continue growing the Parade in years to come. She was a 2022 NextGen Under 30 Kansas Honoree and received the 2023 Justin Cosco Award from KYEA. In Kirstianna’s free time, she enjoys creating creatively (crocheting, art journaling, cooking, songwriting and more!), volunteering, leading herself and others in prayer, and gardening.