Growing up in Colorado, Sharon D. Sherwood has always loved the outdoors and wanted to work outdoors. However, at that time, a woman’s profession was destined to be either a teacher, librarian or nurse. She has had many highlights throughout her career, but to realize her dream of becoming a park forester and being able to make it come true was a major highlight. Ms. Sherwood began her professional career as an instructor at Griffin Business College in Bellevue, Washington, in 1987, remaining in this position before becoming an accountant at Mended Hearts #143 in Redmond, Washington, from 1987 to 1989 and marketing intern at the American Red Cross in Seattle in 1989. During this time, she was the site coordinator for the Group Health Cooperative from 1988 to 1990.
Following this tenure, Ms. Sherwood was the area recruitment coordinator for Campfire in Bellevue from 1990 to 1991 and the assistant administrator for the Exeter House in Seattle from 1991 to 1992. Returning to academia, she served as the medical program coordinator at Amasia College from 1992 to 1993, and a transportation coordinator for the Advocates for Women in Science, Engineering and Mathematics at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland from 1997 to 2001. Most recently, Ms. Sherwood was a substitute teacher from 2001 to 2015.
Prior to the start of her career, Ms. Sherwood pursued a formal education at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, earning a Bachelor of Science in biology in 1971 and Bachelor of Education in 1972. She then matriculated at the City University of Seattle’s Bellevue campus, where she attained a Master of Business Administration in health care in 1989. Since graduating, Ms. Sherwood has contributed myriad articles to professional journals in her field.
Active in her local community, Ms. Sherwood chaired the Masquerade Ball banquet of Bellevue Community College from 1986 to 1987 and the pre-parade banquet of the Seafair Torchlight Parade in Seattle from 1988 to 1991. Simultaneously, she was also a workshop leader and coordinator of the Expanding Horizons Workshop in Bellevue for one year, as well as the secretary, second vice president and PTA recording secretary of city council meetings for the City of Kirkland, Washington, for three years. Ms. Sherwood’s other roles include serving as district captain for the March of Dimes, Redmond area chairman of the National Heart Association, the first female park ranger at Wild Cave National Park, forester at the Bureau of Land Management and hospital volunteer at the Soil Conservation Service. She presently serves as vice president of 8/40 women with the American Legion, and has also volunteered with Central Washington Hospital, the Humane Society, and Self Awareness Growth and Empowerment (SAGE).
Outside of her primary trade, Ms. Sherwood maintains involvement with numerous organizations related to her field including the American Association of University Women, where she served as vice president and secretary, and the Portland Rose Society. In light of her accomplishments, she was awarded a Certificate of Teaching Excellence by Griffin Business College in 1988 and a Letter of Appreciation by the Women’s Health Initiative of the National Institutes of Health between 1995 and 2005. Moreover, she was given a Letter of Commendation for rescuing visitors from a flooded cave, and was selected for inclusion in the seventh edition of Who’s Who in American Education, the 23rd edition of Who’s Who in the West, and the 57th and 58th editions of Who’s Who in America.