Shakinah Simeona-Lee earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Elon University, a master’s degree in student personnel administration in higher education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and studied marketing and Mandarin at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. She lives in Jamestown, North Carolina.

Shakinah currently serves as director of student professional development at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She previously worked as senior associate director of admissions at Appalachian State University, assistant director at Wake Forest University, and coordinator for new student transitions at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Earlier in her career, she held admissions and student support roles at Pfeiffer University, the University of West Georgia, and Elon University. She has also worked in sales and account management with ADP and University Directories.

Shakinah's campaign for Jamestown Town Council Member is her first entry into politics.