My Story

Sharon and Family

In 1976 I chose to move to Minnesota to go to college because I thought this was the best place in the country to live—and I was right. I went to Macalester College on a McKnight scholarship, along with work study, and a modest loan. I double majored in Chemistry and Biology and later received a Master’s in Technical Communications from the University of MN. I worked for the MN Department of Natural Resources on developing the state watershed map. My first job out of college was to develop a prototype battery for storing wind energy. Following that, I worked as a scientist for 9 years in the disk drive industry, including several years as a research and development team manager. I’ve done technical communications consulting for several major corporations including Target, SuperValu, St. Jude, and other medical device companies. Currently, I run a small business in Plymouth.

I have always been active in our community. Last year, I was an alternate delegate for the DFL. I have served as the parent representative for the West Suburban Early Intervention program; as a science teacher in the Upward Bound program; as a lay Minister at my church where I taught and preached once a month. Recently, I volunteered as a community organizer working for green energy, green jobs, affordable health care, and strengthening our democracy. I have also been an active volunteer at my children’s schools.

I learned the power of the American dream from my grandfather who was a sharecropper that had to run away in the dead of night from an unscrupulous landowner. My father, dreaming of a better future for himself and his family, gave 20 years of military service to our country, including serving in Vietnam, after leaving the military he became a union member. I have always taken the values my grandparents and parents instilled in me to heart; hard work, perseverance, and self-reliance. For the last 36 years I have lived in MN. Currently, I live in Plymouth with my husband Julius and our two children, Jonathan 12 and Jade 10.