America's Public Television Stations

Michelle Shanahan is the general counsel for America’s Public Television Stations (APTS). In this role, Shanahan oversees the legal affairs of APTS, including leading the governance, regulatory, contracting, corporate compliance and nonprofit legal work of the organization. She is responsible for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) work of APTS on behalf of its member stations, and she manages the telecommunications and spectrum issues and strategies of the organization. She also serves as corporate secretary.

Shanahan joined APTS in November 2023. Previously, Shanahan worked in the Office of the General Counsel of NPR for 25 years, most recently serving as deputy general counsel and assistant secretary of NPR and secretary of the NPR Foundation. She also served as acting chief legal officer, general counsel and secretary of NPR from November 2020 to February 2021. Shanahan began her legal career working in private practice as a regulatory attorney representing broadcasters and other communications providers before the FCC.

Shanahan received a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Villanova University.