✨ Upstate Magazine Highlight: Sharda Jackson-Smith, Associate Dean of the College of Education, Human Performance, and Health and a shining example of resilience. ✨ 👩‍🎓 As a first-generation college student, Sharda successfully navigated the challenges of graduate school. From joining a cheerleading team to finding her place in a historically Black sorority, her journey was full of valuable challenges that she overcame with determination. 🍎 Her story is a testament to the power of persistence and community. Despite any hurdles she faced—navigating office hours for the first time, balancing full-time teaching, family, and doctoral studies—Sharda was driven by her commitment to education and her students. 🎉 Today she empowers future educators by connecting with them on a personal level, understanding their struggles, and providing the guidance she once sought. 💚 To read more about Sharda's journey, follow the link in our bio and click on Upstate Magazine Online. #HigherEd #Ins...