Records Management Supervisor
Sharon McDaniel was nominated by Dr. Joanna Grymes for P.R.O.P.S. Recognition. Dr. Grymes said “I work with many students transferring in, or thinking about transferring to A-State. Sharon is consistently providing support, direction, answers, and correcting my goofs related to working with these students. I consider her both a friend and a colleague, I am consistently struck by her professional manner, quick responses, and depth of knowledge.”
P.R.O.P.S. subcommittee members Kelsey DeFord, Cathy Naylor, and Karen Nelson spoke with Sharon to learn more about her and her experience at A-State.
What do you most people not know about you?
That I was on the 1st ASU swim team.
I got my degree in ’85 and immediately went to work for ASU. That was not my intent; I have an education degree, so I thought I work here a couple of years and teach. And one year turned into five years which turned into a marriage with a couple of children. The hours and some flexibility allowed me to be at my boys activities and that was very important to me. School teachers don’t have flexibility and next thing I know I’ve been here 39 years. It’s been a great job, I will say.
What is your favorite hobby?
Naturally swimming. I do try to swim a couple of days a week. I was very disappointed when the ASU pool shut down. I had been going there with a couple of people for many many years. Now I use the St. Bernards Wellness facility.
I’m a big outdoors person. I like adventures. I like to hike. I like to camp. I like to go to the lake, but I would guess most everything that I really enjoy revolves around water.
What is your most prized possession?
My children and a great relationship with my husband. My family.
What do you think makes a good university?
For little background here in my office and what I do daily. I see all kinds of transfer work from all types of institutions. For instance, today I saw a transcript. The student took 12 classes, and she was able to take all 12 of them in six days. That is the kind of thing that’s very interesting. So what makes a good university to me is one that is based on ethics and good morals to produce good citizens not just the profit that is made.
What do you like most about A-State?
The students. I like guiding them, helping them towards their path of success, and guiding them on different levels. Whether it’s sitting in my office, bumping into a student and a mom at Walmart or the gym. Being able to be supportive and to know that the information I'm giving them is the correct information.
I think connecting with the students is the best but my colleagues are great, and not just in my office, but across campus. But the students are what I enjoy and I think that's what's kept me here.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Work hard while you're here to complete everything you can, so that when you're away from the office, you can relax and spend time with family.
What would you like to do before retiring?
I don't think I have a before. I believe in making the most of life and not waiting until retirement. I think at my age I see too many people that don't make it to retirement,and I believe in, doing what you can do, before retirement so that when you do make it to retirement, you can continue those adventures.
What do you wish that everybody at A-State knew about your position?
That our office follows the rules and regulations of the bulletin and the state and we have very little wiggle room to make adjustments.
Departments often don't understand that we don't have grey area, we are very black and white and follow the policies of the ASU/state has given us. I wish everybody understood that. Unfortunately, we don't give the answer that a lot of students/faculty want.
