Sharon is the Senior Program Director at Upper West Strategies, where she has been instrumental in building the LifeSci NYC Internship Program, which is now in its eighth year, and has placed 1,000 college and graduate student interns at 220+ companies throughout New York City. Sharon previously was Fundraising Manager at NYC Autism Charter Schools for 10 years, generating individual, foundation and government support. She also has a broad spectrum of knowledge on both education and youth development issues, particularly in New York City. She is proud of her current work building pathways for students to obtain career experience, and for the life science industry to benefit from increased access to diverse young talent. Sharon earned a BA in History from Williams College, following which she worked in arts administration and philanthropy. A mother of two, she grew up in Vermont, but has called New York City home since 1990.