Sharon has combined experience in business strategy and technical research. As the Data Science Institute's Executive Director of Strategic Programs she is responsible for the outreach to Industry and Government. Her focus is to drives interdisciplinary research across the University advancing both the field of data science and the application of data science. Prior to joining the Institute in 2014, Sharon spent 11 years at BAE Systems identifying and pursuing new business opportunities in leading edge technology. She began her career at Bell Laboratories managing and coordinating material characterization as well as developing new and innovative tools. Sharon moved on to become the Strategic Marketing Manager at Lucent/Agere with a variety of responsibilities: from leading the technical evaluation of merger and acquisition candidates to defining product planning for the optical networking group and components. Sharon received a Bachelor of Science in Physics from State University of NY at Binghamton and a Masters of Science in Physics from Stevens Institute of Technology.