Shannon Frank's journey in the world of theater began when she enrolled at San Jose State University from 1987 to 1990 to study theater. Her passion for the craft only intensified when she pursued further training at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute in Los Angeles in 1996, a decision encouraged by her uncle, the esteemed Emmy Award-winning actor Gary Frank, who had also attended the institute in 1969.
Gary Frank's influence on Shannon's development as an actor cannot be overstated, as it was he who introduced her to the works of Konstantin Stanislavski, specifically "An Actor Prepares" and "Building a Character", which marked the beginning of her in-depth exploration of the art of acting. Shannon's studies at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute were supplemented by her work with George Randall at the Celebrity International Center in Hollywood, where she honed her skills as an actress in the competitive Los Angeles market.
However, Shannon's academic pursuits soon took center stage when she met her future husband, Dr. Robert Richter. She went on to earn her degree in Liberal Arts from Cupertino, California, graduating with high honors (Magna Cum Laude) and becoming a lifetime member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society in 2014. Two years later, Shannon Frank-Richter graduated Summa Cum Laude from Palo Alto University with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Psychology and Social Action.
Frank-Richter's academic achievements continued to soar, as she earned her Master's degree in Counseling (emphasis in Child/Adult/Marriage & Family emphasis) from Palo Alto University's Pacific Graduate School of Psychology in November 2018, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Shannon credits her experience as an actress with fostering her passion for character development, which she believes is closely tied to her ultimate goal of helping others heal and learn from their experiences.
Looking ahead, Shannon Frank-Richter is set to pursue her doctorate degree and apply her clinical and academic expertise to researching the critical role of empathy in human engagements, both personal and professional.
