Sharon Williams

Responsibilities

Sharon Shuler Williams loves working with students & serves as the Academic Advisor for Construction Engineering & Management (CEM). She is passionate about helping students thrive & prosper in all aspects of life (mental, academic, social, physical, economic).

Her primary job duties include: Guiding students in all phases of academic, leadership, wellness, experiential & career goals; Assisting students with long-term academic planning for timely graduation; Networking with campus & industry resources; Recruiting prospective students; Coordinating student ambassadors & weekly tutoring; Promoting students’ mental/physical well-being, self-care, social awareness/compassion & service-learning; Conducting summer orientation; Leading recruitment efforts (open house, CEM Preview Day, campus/building/lab/construction site tours); Assisting with summer camps/outreach efforts; Assisting with curriculum development & scholarship/awards selection; Assisting with Myers-Lawson School of Construction events (hard-hatting, awards banquets, career fairs, capstone days); Serving on Myers-Lawson School of Construction & College of Engineering committees related to DEI, Outreach/Marketing, Transfer Student Orientation & ‘Explore Engineering’ efforts

Education

Sharon is a 3-degree Hokie, with a double-major B.S. in Communications (Public Relations specialization) & Agriculture Education (Training & Development specialization). She also holds a M.S. in Career & Technical Education from Virginia Tech & a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) for completing some coursework toward a Ph.D.

Background

Sharon started at Virginia Tech in 2000, with the majority of her career spent leading student success initiatives, academic advising & career coaching efforts in 5 different VT colleges (College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Natural Resources, Pamplin College of Business & College of Science).

Her two-decade career in student services includes positions as Director of Career Services for the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources; Agricultural, Leadership, & Community Education (ALCE) Undergraduate Academic & Recruitment Coordinator; New River Community College Career Coach; Strategic Services Coordinator at VT KnowledgeWorks; New River Community College GED Tutoring Lead & Graduate Advising Coordinator at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion in Roanoke. Many of her positions also included aspects related to alumni/industry relations, workforce development, event planning, advocacy for underserved populations, community relationship-building, fundraising & non-profit management.

She has taught college classes in communications, business/technical writing, public speaking, & various mental wellness topics at Virginia Tech, Radford University & New River Community College. Before working with college students, she taught middle & high school agriculture for several years in Virginia & was a substitute teacher in Montgomery Co., Virginia. Her combined experience has involved working with Kindergarteners through adult education programs in various educational institutions.

Sharon is a proud southwest Virginia native (Wythe Co.), & mother of four ‘college kids’/young adults, who is passionate about helping people define & attain their goals. Her favorite ways to live out Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) in daily life include: leading her church “hands & feet” community service group; serving as board president of Montgomery Co. Emergency Assistance Program (MCEAP), a local emergency assistance non-profit/food pantry that provides $500,000+ annually in food, housing, fuel, clothing & medical assistance to Montgomery County, Virginia residents in need; working with a local pregnant teens’ ministry & serving as an overnight volunteer at To Our House winter homeless shelter. She is a ‘people person’ who thrives on spending time with family/friends, & maintains long-term contact with many of her students. She enjoys most any outdoor activity, is a voracious reader & likes traveling, cooking, live concerts, thrifting, home improvement & landscaping projects.