STCC Names Lara Sharp Dean for the School of STEM
SPRINGFIELD —Lara Sharp has been named dean of the School of STEM at Springfield Technical Community College.
Sharp’s professional experience includes six years at St. Petersburg College in Clearwater, Fla., as the program director for Engineering, Manufacturing and Building Arts, and also serving as the acting dean of Natural Sciences, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Building Arts.
From 2013-2015, she was at the Corporate College of Polk State College, in Winter Haven, Fla., managing National Science Foundation (NSF) and Department of Labor (DOL) grants in advanced manufacturing and engineering technology.
Sharp spent more than 11 years teaching chemistry, natural science and engineering to high school students at various locations.
Sharp also brings industry experience, having worked at Specialty Minerals Inc. as a process engineer and an operator technician as well as an educational consultant for PASCO Scientific.
She has been recognized for her outstanding teaching as well as her community engagement including a STEM Woman of the Year Award from Girls Inc. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.
“I am honored to join STCC as the dean of STEM,” Sharp said. “STEM has been a part of my life as an engineer, teacher, mentor, and daughter of a science teacher and a nurse. I look forward to working with everyone to participate in the continuation of STCC’s storied reputation as the technical community college in Massachusetts.”
Sharp holds a master of Science in industrial engineering from the University of South Florida, a master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
The School of STEM at STCC includes programs in advanced manufacturing and engineering technologies, graphic communication and photography, landscape design and management, optics and photonics, as well as science and computer-related programs.