Sharon Matson joined S&T in August 2000. As a manager for graduate education, she spends her days supporting the operations that help graduate students. She supervises staff and student employees, updates the graduate catalog, oversees the processes for graduate certificate proposals, checks thesis or dissertation formatting, monitors and tracks student grades and academic probation. Sharon also supervises administrating and grading of the SPEAK tests (English proficiency test) and organizes graduate teaching workshops..

Sharon most enjoys the people she works with and helping graduate students reach their goals. Her favorite memory is visiting S&T’s Hot Glass Shop with her team. They learned about the process of glass blowing and made paperweights.

Sharon’s advice to other S&T employees is to take advantage of the opportunities around you and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone – that is when you learn the most about yourself, she says.

Sharon says she is most proud of her children.

“As parents, we often wonder if we are doing things right,” she says. “Seeing them being responsible, hard-working adults who accomplish whatever they set their minds to reassures me that I must have done something right!”

Sharon at a glance

Hometown: Rolla, Missouri.

Favorite foods: Mexican, chocolate and coffee.

Hobbies: Crafting (tumblers and pens), camping, hiking and spending time with family.

Family: Sharon’s husband, Larry, children Ryan and Reanna and their dog, Daisy.