Sharon Naughton

Sharon Naughton
Shortly after retiring from MCC in 1998, the Sharon Naughton Poetry Award was established in recognition of Sharon Naughton’s great work as Coordinator of the Developmental English Program at MCC. She graduated from Mercy College of Detroit, summa cum laude in 1959 with a Bachelor’s degree in art and earned a Master’s Degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Michigan. She returned to Mercy College where she taught English until 1965 when she was offered a teaching position at then Flint Junior College.  She taught various English courses at Mott until retirement. She was especially drawn to the developmental writing courses, ultimately becoming Coordinator of the Developmental English Program, leading a team of dedicated teachers who developed courses and innovative teaching methods to help prepare students for college level writing courses. In addition, she mentored graduate student interns from Central Michigan University’s Community College Teaching Program. She was also Co-Chair of the Committee on Excellence in Teaching and Learning and was Editor of FOCUS, a newsletter featuring faculty articles on teaching and learning. She was awarded the Ballenger Chair of Learning in Developmental Education, and received two excellence in teaching awards from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development from the University of Texas at Austin.  After retirement, she was ordained a Deacon in the Episcopal Church and served at St. Paul’s-Flint and St. Christopher’s-Grand Blanc.  Service and support to Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers ranks at the top of her various ministries. She was named an Advocate for the National Alzheimer’s Association and attended several national forums in Washington, DC where she successfully lobbied members of Congress to support funding for Alzheimer’s research and programs.