DR. SHANESSA FENNER'S BIO
Read full article in April Issue
Dr. Shanessa Fenner is an elementary principal and has also been a middle school principal. She is a writer for many publications that include Up & Coming Weekly, Women’s View, Sheen Magazine, Array Magazine, Consciousness Magazine, The Fayetteville Press Newspaper, Bronze Magazine, OTC Beauty Magazine, Way To Parent Magazine, and several more publications. She has also written pieces for Jet, Black Enterprise, Black America Web, and Essence magazines. She had a blog with The Fayetteville Observer Newspaper called “Shanessa’s Hot Topics.” Dr. Fenner is also a print model, motivational speaker, actress, and has her own TV show “The Bronco Exchange” on channel 7. She is a former radio personality on KISS 107.7 FM and had her own radio show entitled “Real Talk with Dr. Shanessa Fenner and was co-host of a radio show called “iTeach.” Dr. Fenner is also an adjunct professor.
Dr. Fenner obtained her bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Central University, two master’s degrees from Fayetteville State University in the areas of Elementary Education and School Administration, and her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Fayetteville State University. She was awarded the North Carolina Principal Fellows Scholarship. Shanessa was a Principal of the Year finalist for her school district in 2021.
Shanessa was featured in Ebony Magazine as one of the nation’s most eligible bachelorettes and in Sophisticate’s Black Hair Magazine in the “Someone You Should Know” section. She was voted one of the most influential women in Fayetteville and won Best Local Columnist and Best Local TV show.
She was a recipient of The Fayetteville Observer’s “Forty Under Forty Award” and featured in Sophisticate’s Black Hair Magazine in the “Role Model Beyond Beauty” column. Shanessa was the hair spokesmodel for Bee Mine Hair Products.
Dr. Fenner has appeared on the cover of an author’s book, has been featured on the cover of a magazine, featured in poetry books, written two book forewords, and featured in various advertisements and commercials. She is also a songwriter and has written several songs that have been recorded for two artists’ albums. The songs are “I Trusted You” on Southern Soul artist Michelle Miller’s album and “You Never Know Who You’re Going To Love” on Southern Soul artist Carl Marshall’s album. Her voice has also been featured on the song “Leave That Man’s Wife Alone” by Carl Marshall. She was also an actress on two local soap operas.
She is a principal and has a girl’s group at her school called “Dr. Fenner’s Young Women of Distinction.” She tells them to reach for the stars and don’t let people make you feel like you are not worthy enough because you are smart, talented, and able-bodied.
Last year, her TV interview on her TV show with Congressman John Lewis, was aired everywhere and the historic interview was amazing. She has also interviewed Dr. Maya Angelou, Iyanla Vanzant, Babyface, Melissa Morgan, Nikki Giovanni, and many more for the various publications she writes for.
She continues to be a multifaceted woman that does not leave a stone unturned and her motto is “We were placed here to do great things and that is what I am going to do.”