Jacqui was born in New York City. After moving as a young child to New Jersey and Dallas, she grew up in San Antonio, Texas in a family of 6 children - 3 boys and 3 girls. Her father earned his accounting degree in his late 20's and her mom is a high school graduate. Although all of her siblings have had solid working careers, not all graduated from college. One brother served in the navy for 20 years and another is currently finishing his college degree. Her 2 sisters and middle brother all finished their initial college degrees. Jacqui is the first person in her family to earn a graduate level education.

Because her family had a modest income, Jacqui saved for and paid her way through college by waiting tables at coffee shops and pizza restaurants, and by serving as an orientation assistant at her college. Her excelling in high school earned her grants and scholarships to pay for college. She graduated in 3 and 1/2 years with her degree in Finance, earning the "Outstanding Student in Investments" from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Jacqui went to Houston Texas and began her dream career right out of college. She left the work force, moved to Denver in 1988 and began her graduate degree while raising her family. After her first marriage ended, she finished her graduate degree in kinesiolgy and earned a masters from University of Northern Colorado in 1998.

Jacqui remarried and inherited a wonderful son and had a daughter with her second husband. Together, they started the Tai Chi Project while she directed fitness education at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. She began her career in higher education in 1993. Jacqui supported her husband as he continued to work in their business and earn his masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine, opening a clinic in 2007. Since her move to Denver in 1988, she has advocated locally, nationally and internationally for healthier communities through physical fitness, music, and art.

Jacqui Shumway, M.A., B.B.A., currently serves the state of Colorado as Chair for The National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity and on the Colorado Governors Council for Physical Fitness. She also serves as Western Region Director for the National Association of Health and Fitness: the Network of State and Governor's Councils. She has served on the CoAHPERD Board and Advocacy Committee, as NAHF Board Secretary, and as a 5-year community partner of Park Hill Thriving Communities.

Jacqui's community organizing includes many physical fitness, music, and art outreach through board and committee positions on the Greater Park Hill Community, Inc., Martin Luther King, Jr. Marade, City Park Alliance, Stapleton Healthy Neighborhoods Council, Park Hill PTSA Auction Chair and Walk/Bike Committee, and Colorado Ceasefire. She and her family sing in their church choirs, perform at community events, and play drums and percussion. In addition to continuing work on her Tai Chi Chuan and dance skills, Jacqui loves to bicycle everywhere and practice "greening as often as possible."

Jacqui has worked on many political issues that involve all areas of living in Colorado. She actively testifies on issues before the state congressional education committees - specifically those dealing with nutrition, physical activity, and the arts. She also works vigorously for initiatives to and candidates who reduce violence and improve mental health.

Her Safe Routes to School and Walkable Community volunteer efforts earned her a grant from the CDC and an invitation to present with her husband for the Oxford Roundtable in Oxford, England. Other Boards on which she has served include Rocky Mountain ACSM, Holistic Health Advisory to MSCD, local AAUW, American Society on Aging Local Arrangements, Colorado Governors Council for Physical Fitness, Million Mom March, and was part of the Colorado 1998 CDC AIM 30 Team.

Jacqui's graduate research at University of Northern Colorado focused on healthcare provider barriers to preventive and rehabilitative exercise. Jacqui is currently adjunct faculty at several higher education institutions in Colorado and in community settings. For 13 years, she was on the faculty of the Depts. of Human Performance, Sport and Leisure Studies and Health Professions at Metropolitan State College of Denver, teaching Tai Chi Chuan, Qi-Gong, Drumming Therapy and special populations inclusion in Physical Activity. She was honored as a 2007/2008 MetroLeads Fellow. Jacqui also served as Special Programs Director at The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Fitness Facility for 10 years and continues to be a popular workshop presenter.

Jacqui uses her finance and economics education from Stephen F. Austin State University and her accounting skills to run the business side of their operation. She also has served as treasurer for various organizations.

“When we separated the brain and body, we compromised the spirit.” - Jacqui Shumway