Elected in 2012, Shackleford represents Indiana House District 98. She serves as Ranking Democrat on the Public Health Committee and is a member of the Insurance and the Courts and Criminal Code committees. She currently serves on the Interim Health Care Cost Oversight Taskforce, the Medicaid Advisory Committee and the Interagency Council on Black and Minority Health. Shackleford is also the chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus Education Foundation and serves on the Advisory Board for the Indiana All Payers Claim Database (INAPCD).

Shackleford serves on the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance Committee and the Technology and Communications Committee for the National Caucus of State Legislators (NCSL). For the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL), Shackleford serves as a Regional Chair and was a former member-at-large, and served as the Committee Chair for Youth and Family.

Shackleford has worked as a Policy and Research Specialist for the Indiana Health Care Association and has over 10 years of project management experience with Engaging Solutions, LLC and Crowe LLP.

Shackleford currently works as an independent life and health insurance broker and is a former chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus.

Shackleford is a graduate of Indiana University and IUPUI, having earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public affairs. She was a former Board President for Pathway Resource Center and former board member for Indy Reads and Martin University

Other civic involvement includes the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Indianapolis Chapter, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, Governing Institute's Women in Government Leadership, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the Highland Project, Cohort #2.

As an advocate for access to affordable and quality healthcare, Shackleford strives to improve the overall health and wealth of all Hoosiers and continues to fight for improvements in chronic illnesses and community development.