Mina P. Shaughnessy

Mina P. Shaughnessy (1924–1978), born in the mining town of Lead, South Dakota, was a teacher and innovator in the field of basic writing at the City University of New York (CUNY).

Despite growing up in a small town with limited resources for education, Shaughnessy and her older brother George lived fairly enriched academic lives as children. Though her father, Albert Pendo, only maintained an eighth grade education, whereupon he began a nearly lifelong career as a miner in Lead, it is clear through some of the remnants of notes to his family that he clearly valued careful and witty communication. Mina’s mother, Ruby Alma Johnson Pendo, had a much higher level of education, receiving both a high school diploma and a two-year teaching certificate. Ruby taught school for two years in Alaska before her family moved to South Dakota, whereupon she met and married Albert Pendo.

Shaughnessy found her passion for teaching Open Admissions students in part due to the experiences of her father, who was often labelled as unable to excel in reading and writing. This link to her father's academic history provided her with the drive to show that rather than unable, Open Admissions students were simply untrained. This became a driving force for Shaughnessy and helped her form the "basic writing movement" years later.

Also contributing to the academic atmosphere of the Pendo home were the boarders the family took on. Two teachers from the local elementary school lived with the family for years during Mina’s childhood, Amelia Perman and Edith Johnson. Though technically tenants, the two were almost like aunts to the Shaughnessy children. Not only did Shaughnessy have these women to look to, but in her own extended family she had examples of women in academic success. Two of her real aunts were also school teachers in other parts of the country.

Though she was not pressured directly to excel in school, it is easy to see that with all the intellectual influences in Shaughnessy’s home and life growing up she would naturally be drawn to academics. Throughout high school Shaughnessy excelled in academics and extracurricular activities. She graduated fourth in her class and was heavily involved in the dramatic performances and declamation contests, receiving awards for her participation and writing. Mina would develop each of these areas as she pursued further education and her career.

Although the United States entered World War II just before Shaughnessy graduated high school, she was not deterred from further pursuing her academic work. Shaughnessy applied and was accepted to the School of Speech at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. At Northwestern, Shaughnessy met lifelong friend, Priscilla Weaver. Shaughnessy achieved academic success in college as she had previously, maintaining a 3.7 or better grade point average for her entire four years’ work.

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