PA Dept. of Labor & Industry Sec. Oleksiak Announces New OVR Executive Director-Shannon Austin

Labor & Industry Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce that Shannon Austin has been named executive director for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR).

Shannon brings 19 years of combined experience in human resource management, workforce development and vocational rehabilitation to her new role. Throughout her professional career, she has worked tirelessly to develop and nurture strong collaborations between government agencies, private businesses and community partners to bring about true inclusion in the workplace.

Shannon’s career at OVR began in 2007 at the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (BVRS) in Pittsburgh. During her tenure at BVRS, Shannon worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor, vocational rehabilitation supervisor, business service & outreach division supervisor and assistant district administrator.

In 2017, Shannon accepted the position of district administrator with OVR’s Bureau of Blindness & Visual Services, which serves individuals with significant visual impairments across nine counties within southwestern Pennsylvania.

Shannon holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Organizational Leadership and Behavioral & Social Sciences and earned her Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from West Virginia University. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in Instructional Management and Leadership at Robert Morris University.

Shannon has been happily married for 30 years and has five children. In her free time, she loves to cook, read, and travel.
Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Shannon to her new position.
Jerry Oleksiak
Secretary
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry