Sharon Lee Dunwoody

It is hard to believe that a year has gone by since Sharon left us. She was a vital and wonderful person whose mark on her friends and her contributions has not faded. Brilliant Scholar... Inspiring Teacher... Leader in the field... Story-Teller Par Excellence.... Sharon Dunwoody´s legacy lives on.

My name is Kathy Rowan. I am one of the many people that Sharon mentored, supported, and inspired. I was a grad student at Purdue teaching journalism in the mid-1980s. My officemate, Dave Nelson, encouraged me to attend the annual meeting of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in August 1987. He said I should meet "the Sharons," aka Sharon D and Sharon Friedman because my dissertation explored ways to make science explanations understandable in news...

Sharon advanced environmental and science journalism in immeasurable ways and she always carried it out with her memorable smile. She was ever a force for good.

I am deeply saddened to belatedly learn of Sharon's death. She and I were sorority sisters at Indiana University and, even then, she was already a skilled mentor and person of intelligence and grace. She will be missed.

Still a guiding light of kindness, warmth, and brilliance. You are missed.

Sharon made such a difference in my life - she was such an amazing mentor, supporter, colleague and friend. So lucky to have known her and so sorry that she's gone. But the many gifts of kindness and caring that she gave to all of us will continue in the best way.

I had been Sharon´s hair stylist for the last 15-20 odd years. She was always a bright spot in my day´s schedule. How lucky we were to know her

I met Sharon at the AAAS meeting at the Shamrock Hilton in Texas in 1979. Although I´d been at OSU only a year and Sharon was teaching her Mass Media Science Writing course at OSU, we´d yet to meet. That happened in Carol Rodgers´ press room on the first day of the meeting. The next quarter, back on campus, she asked me to speak to her class, which I did. The course was offered every other quarter and Sharon asked if I´d team-teach it with her. Honored, though totally scared, I...

I was lucky to meet Sharon as a Nelson Institute graduate student. Sharon and I had very insightful conversations about drivers that may explain polarization of ideas in science. Like the divide between scientist against or supporters of invasive species. She provided advice and shared very fun stories that help me better understand the role of science mass communication in advancing sustainability. Sending love and peace to Sharon's family and friends!