June 10, 1947 – August 21, 2017
Sharon Levin graduated from the Bronx High School of Science and continued her education at City College of New York (Phi Beta Kappa) with a B.A. in Economics.
She earned both her M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Michigan. Sharon joined the UMSL Economics faculty in 1974 rising to the rank of full professor in 1987. She built a reputation as a “triple hitter,” excelling in teaching, research and service. For 15 years, she served as Chair and Director of Graduate Studies and quickly became a mentor to her colleagues and an advisor to countless students. During her tenure as Chair, Sharon was instrumental in creating the Department’s student-centered culture that persists today.
An alumna succinctly explained Sharon’s impact: “[she] was the one who brought me into the fold at UMSL and, as I often say, that is what changed my life.” Sharon also sowed the seeds for the extensive quantitative and data-oriented curriculum offered by the Department. Although she officially retired in 2003, she remained research active and was working on an NIH grant on the biomedical workforce up until her death.
Sharon’s seminal research focused on the quality and composition of the scientific workforce. Sharon was a creative innovator and leader in the application of research methods related to science and immigration and painstakingly collected data to address questions of policy concern. She co-authored Striking the Mother Lode in Science (Oxford University Press, 1992) and published more than 40 journal articles, including publications in the AER, RESTAT, and Science. She secured grants from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, NSF, and NIH. Sharon was honored by UMSL in 1993 with the Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Research and Creativity; she was the first female faculty member to receive this award. In recognition of her impact on the University, including her long tenure as department chair, she was honored with the UMSL Women’s Trailblazer Award in 2000. No matter how busy Sharon was with her teaching, service, and research, she was always generous with her time and expertise. The success of those around her was just as important as her own personal success.
The ERC exemplifies the student-centered culture that Sharon created. The Sharon G. Levin Economics Resource Center will live on as a permanent way to honor Sharon’s extraordinary research accomplishments and her legacy as a tireless mentor and champion of colleagues and students alike.