Dr. Sharon White delivers a unique blend of divergent thinking and strategic consulting for educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and corporations. She is the founder of the consulting firm, Dr. Sharon J. White & Associates, LLC, and formerly served as Campus Director for UCONN Stamford. Dr. White holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Columbia University, an M.A. in Higher Education/Student Administration and Counseling and a B.A. in English Education from the University of Connecticut.
Dr. White began her career in Higher Education as an English instructor at UConn Storrs. From UCONN, she went on to work as an Assistant Director of Admissions at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. Following a position in Boston, Massachusetts as the Academic Counselor/Coordinator of Minority Student Affairs at Emerson College, she returned to UConn Stamford as the Coordinator for the Center for Academic Programs, where she developed and managed a special services program for first generation, economically disadvantaged college students. In 2006, she took over as the Director of Student Services/Campus Dean at UConn Stamford Campus, where she built the student services professional staff by 400%. In 2010 Dr. White became the UCONN Stamford Campus Director.
Dr. White has received numerous awards and certificates. She has served on both educational, corporate, and non-profit boards and presented extensively at professional conferences, both nationally and internationally. Her most memorable experience internationally was serving as a higher education ambassador while exchanging professional good practices with colleges and universities in South Africa. Just recently, she was named (for the fourth time) as one of the 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut. In 2017, she received the NAACP Stamford’s Image Award.
Professional Highlights:
Dr. Sharon J. White & Associates, LLC 2016 – present
Principal Consultant & Strategist
UCONN Stamford 1980 – 2015
Campus Director 2010 – 2015
- Provided leadership and strategic vision for the Stamford Campus of the University of Connecticut
- Oversaw day to day operation of the Stamford Campus
- Represented the campus and the larger University in all aspects of the greater community
- Represented regional campus at Storrs
- Built relationships with educational institutions, corporations, hospitals, and community based organizations in the community
- Developed partnerships with K-12, community colleges, and Storrs Admissions to support recruitment efforts to admit high quality students for the campus
- Provided leadership for faculty in collaboration and in partnership with Storrs’ department chairs and deans
- Provided advocacy and support, as appropriate, for faculty throughout their PTR activities
- Chaired Director’s Advisory Board with representation from all campus divisions
- Oversaw recruitment, hiring, and evaluation of adjunct faculty and professional staff
- Worked closely with development individuals to identify funding support for students and campus programs
- Promoted the campus through community partnerships, board involvement, and professional development activities
- Managed a multifaceted multi-million dollar operational budget
UConn Stamford Director of Student Services/Campus Dean
UConn Stamford Associate Director for Student Life
UConn Stamford Assistant Dean of Students
UConn Stamford Coordinator, Center for Academic Programs
Norwalk Community College Norwalk, CT 2004 – 2011
English Instructor
Taught freshman composition and literature courses
Emerson College, Boston, MA
Academic Counselor/Coordinator of Minority Student Affairs
Hampshire College, Amherst, MA
Assistant Director of Admissions
University of Connecticut
English Instructor
Presentations and Publications:
Freshman Orientation: The Process of Inclusion. 10th Annual Conference on the Freshman Year Experience. Focus: Diversity. Long Beach, California.
Black Student Retention: A Five Stage Model for Programs You Can Institute Next Year. 3rd. Annual Conference on Black Student Retention. Tampa, Florida.
The University Experience Mini Course for Parents: A Triangular Model for Student Development Through a Parent Orientation Program. American College Student Personnel Association Conference. New Orleans, Louisiana.
The First Generation College Student: A Prescription for Retention. The University of Maryland Student Affairs Conference. College Park, Maryland.
The Pre-College Readiness and Enrichment Program: A Partnership Program Between The University of Connecticut/Stamford and Stamford High School. National Association for Educational Opportunity in Higher Education Conference. Washington, D.C.
Living With Disaster. Essay. The New York Times.
Related Experience:
Member: Downtown Special Services District. 2012 – present
Member: Stamford Chamber of Commerce. 2011 – 2016
Member: Stamford Partnership Board of Directors. 2010 – 2020
Chairperson: Childcare Learning Centers Leadership Council. 2019 – present
Honorary Board Member: Stamford Historical Society. 2010 – 2014
Educational Consultant for TRIO Program sponsored by the Council for Opportunity in Education. 2007 – 2008.
Consulting Editor for undergraduate research papers, graduate theses, including doctoral dissertations. 2001 – present.
Writing Group Coordinator for a group of Fairfield County published writers. 2003 – 2005.
Consultant for the Stamford, Connecticut School Board. Developed and coordinated the Pre-College Readiness and Enrichment Program (PREP), at Stamford High School and The University of Connecticut. 1983-1992.
Recipient of a Connecticut Humanities Council grant to develop a conference entitled: The Black Family and Education. 1982
Coordinator of workshop entitled The Minority Student in the Predominantly White Institution: Strategies for Future Survival. 1976
Participant: South Africa Study Tour. 2007
Trustee: The King School, Stamford, CT 1997 – 2004
Chair, Education Committee (1998 – 2004)
Member: Supported Education Advisory Board, State of Connecticut 1992 – 1998
Member: National Association of Student Personnel Administrators 1985 – 2011
Awards
Stamford NAACP Stamford Image Award. 2017
Commendation Letter from President Barack Obama for excellence in Higher Education. 2015
Congressional, Senatorial, and Gubernatorial citations for work in Higher Education. 2015
Stamford Chamber of Commerce Education Award. 2015
NAACP 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut Award. 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018
Silver Eagle Award for Community Service. November 2010
UCONN “Women of Color” Recognition. 2007-2009, 2008, 2009
ACE Office of Women in Higher Education “Advancing Women in Leadership” Award. 2006
Vanderbilt University/Peabody College Professional Institute for Higher Education Management. Summer Fellow, 2010