Title: Assistant Dean of Advising, L&S Office of Undergraduate Advising
About Sharon
Joined the L&S Office of Undergraduate Advising in:
August 2023
How did you get here?
When I matriculated to UC Berkeley as a transfer student in 1991, I applied for a job in the College of Chemistry (COC) Undergraduate Advising Office. I was a re-entry student who had recently recovered from living in a car, and I was humbled that Berkeley would offer me the opportunity to change my life. I worked as an assistant in the COC advising office 20 hours/week in order to support myself while pursuing my education. I didn’t realize that my initial desire to work on campus, in an effort to seamlessly combine my rigorous academic and work schedules, would end up serving as the catalyst for the trajectory of my career in advising. I had inadvertently discovered my direction. I have since been an adviser in the College of Chemistry and the College of Engineering, and most recently I was the DIrector of Advising and Policy in Engineering Student Services. Now, I am honored to be back at the college where it all began for me as a re-entry transfer student several decades ago, and I am committed to improving and enhancing the undergraduate student experience in L&S.
What advice do you have for L&S students in general?
You belong here! You may experience a few hiccups, or even significant struggles. I have learned that there are many lessons buried in the detours. Embrace them and remain open. Remember that you are a pivotal piece of the fabric that makes Berkeley unique. You can do this!