Sheryl Edwards Email and Phone Number

As Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, I lead projects and departments, provide research and counsel to enable informed decisions, and work with people to deliver positive change that adds value to Southern Arkansas University. As a senior member of administration, I represent administration at both internal and external events, often speaking on behalf of the university. My work in external relations connects industry, community, and government to education. My experience teaching undergraduate finance courses further cultivated an ability to deliver clear, concise, written and oral communication. With energy and passion for empowering people, I provided engaging classroom experiences for students. Having co-chaired the Risk Management Task Force, I helped lead the campus through the Covid-19 pandemic, supporting the campus community through communication, processes, policies, and procedures.Following a security breach during the fall of 2023 and having successfully guided crisis management for other incidents, the vice-presidential oversight for Information Technology Services (ITS) was transferred to my department. I successfully lead ITS through restoration and recovery, significant post-incident change, built a stronger team, and implemented cybersecurity education reforms for the campus community.Career Service Awards:RCB Teaching AwardRCB Service AwardSAU Teaching AwardSpirit of SAU AwardArkansas PBL Advisor of the Year Partial list of project completions and competencies:Faculty leader, Love & Loyalty Capital CampaignSAU Beyond the CampusValuing People InitiativeRisk Management Task ForceCybersecurity RangeSAU Outdoor CampusBuilding renovationsCritical ThinkingProject ManagementFacility DevelopmentCapital BudgetingGhostwritingCrisis Management & Communications