Photo by Christina VanHorn,
UNH Human Resources

Sharon Flanagan may be the newest staff member to join Human Resources, but she is not new to UNH. Sharon first came to the University of New Hampshire as the result of a major professional transition in her life. She had been working at Clarostat Manufacturing in Dover, NH for 16 years, when, as a result of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) the company closed up shop and moved its operations south to Mexico in 1992. When Clarostat Mfg. closed its doors in New Hampshire, the federal government's Department of Labor offered Sharon and other displaced Clarostat employees the opportunity to go to college. This benefit covered full tuition, books and a computer. Sharon took advantage of this opportunity and headed off to McIntosh College, enrolling in a dual degree program - Executive Office Management and Legal Office Management.

When Sharon was asked how she became interested in working at UNH, she stated "I was ready to graduate from McIntosh College and one of my professors asked me what my plans where. I told him I was interested in working in an office where I could start applying what I have learned here at college and then he told me he knew of a department at UNH that was looking for an Administrative Assistant." Sharon immediately applied for the job and was accepted. She graduated in October, 1994 on a Friday afternoon and appropriately so, began her first position at UNH in the Division of Continuing Education's Program Development office the following Monday morning. The following year Sharon moved to the DCE's Advising Office and in July, 1997, she moved to the Housing Department.

In September of 1999, Sharon and her husband made another major life transition by deciding to quit their jobs, sell everything they own, pack their bags and move south to the west coast of Florida. They had been to Florida many times prior on vacations and loved it. With winter fast approaching they just felt it was time for a change and wanted to get away from the New England winters. Though they loved their time in Florida, after two years of only being able to see their grandchild two or three times a year, that was enough to pull them back to New Hampshire. As soon as Sharon returned she was contacted by the Housing Department and asked to come back and fill a recent vacancy. She immediately said yes and fit right back in like she had never left. Sharon really enjoys working with her fellow staff and being on a college campus. But the greatest impact for Sharon is our students, saying "working with and seeing them every day at UNH has had a great impact on me. Seeing how they can manage their school workload and working part time to help pay for their college education is very remarkable. They work so hard and they do such a great job. I admire each and every one of them!"

Sharon's newest challenge began last month, when she joined the staff of Human Resources. Her current responsibilities are advertising UNH positions on the on-line employment website, www.unhjobs.com; advertising positions in surrounding community newspapers; approving EPAF's for new employees and those who have had a change in position/status and assisting Sharon Demers, Assistant Vice President of Human Resources. Sharon feels the skills needed for this position are being detail orientated, very organized, with strong interpersonal and customer service skills and being able to multi-task. She also finds being able to help people and servicing their needs the most satisfying aspect of her current position. She misses the daily interaction with students but looks forward to the opportunity to work with, meet and support more UNH staff members.

When Sharon is not working she says she loves to be with her two grandchildren, Molly and Cameron. Sharon and her husband love traveling, especially back to Florida. They kept their condo in Longboat Key, FL when they returned to New Hampshire. She also loves working on her home. They have been remodeling their house, room by room, since they returned and it is almost finished. Sharon also loves reading, biking, going for walks and being with her friends here at UNH.