Sharon Deane

Mentorship Commitment Preference: Participate in short-term mentoring. Sharon is available for online mentoring

Industry: Museums 

Employer: Virginia Museum of History and Culture

Job Title: Manager of Exhibition Production

Areas Sharon is interested in mentoring: 

• Resume Review
• Internship Guidance
• Career Planning
• Networking Strategies
• Interview Preparation
• Skill Development
• Leadership Growth

Bio: Sharon has more than 20 years of experience in the architecture, design, construction, and museum fields as a project manager and educator. Recognized in Who’s Who in America as an expert in the field, she has collaborated on various design and construction projects at well-known institutions including the Pentagon, Navy Federal Credit Union, International Monetary Fund, and The Kennedy Center. She also served as the Director of Education at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, and in various management roles overseeing the development of award-winning archival collections, educational programming, and exhibit design at the Smithsonian, The Charlotte Museum of History, Vietnam War Commemoration, and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Sharon’s longtime dedication to volunteering in her community and outreach to veterans led to her recognition as one of George Mason University’s Distinguished Alumni recipients in 2017. She has lived in many countries around the world, but currently resides in Ashland, Virginia. Sharon is the Manager of Exhibition Production at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

Describe how you got your first job: Doing an academic internship and networking with friends and people in the industry.

If you were starting your career today, what is the one piece of advice you would give yourself? Communicate with family, friends, and people you meet that you are seeking job opportunities - network, network, network.

In what ways has your career path been unique or unconventional? I applied my unique set of multidisciplinary skills and extensive experience in project management at architecture, engineering, and construction firms as well as museums and cultural institutions focused on exhibition design, educational programming, and curation. My career path has been unconventional from the start that has presented many rewarding opportunities..

What career paths have you explored or transitioned between? From commercial Interior Design in the private and public sectors to Museum Education and Exhibition Design at non-profits and well-known cultural and federal institutions.

What skills or experiences have been most valuable in your career?

• Project Management
• Time Management, Design
• Leadership
• Mentoring
• Organizational Skills

Were you involved in any affinity groups during your time at Mason?

• Honors Committee
• Phi Alpha Theta

Sharon is open to participating in informational interviews