Shannon earned his Bachelor's degree in Philosophy at San Beda University in Manila, Philippines, and a Master's degree in Religious Studies at the University of the West in Rosemead, CA. Currently, he is a PhD student at UCSB's Department of Religious Studies and serves as the co-chair for the Asian American Religious Studies Program Unit for the American Academy of Religion, Western Region. His work presently focuses on Filipino New Religious Movements as a transnational religion.