She graduated from Drake in 1973 with a B.S. degree in education. A semester of work-study for a retail class with Younkers, Inc. downtown turned into a 12 year career as an assistant buyer & later buyer. Her purchasing knowledge and skills enabled her to move into the medical field at Broadlawns Medical Center in materials management as a buyer.

Shari joined Drake in 1996 in athletics as an administrative assistant for the men's basketball program and joined JMC in the spring of 1999. She provides administrative and secretarial support for the school's office operations and for the dean. In her free time she volunteers for Living History Farms and the Blood Center of central Iowa and enjoys gardening with her daughter.