Sharon Greichen O’Grady ’78 Creates a Lasting Legacy Honoring Former Salve Professor Dr. W. James Hersh with an Endowed Scholarship

A native Newporter and scholarship recipient herself, Sharon Greichen O’Grady ’78 wanted to offer students the same life-altering opportunities she received at Salve. She also wanted to honor the professor who broadened her outlook and who played a large role in helping her become the person she is today.

Sharon credits Dr. Hersh (pictured above in black with Sharon opposite in blue) with unlocking her intellectual curiosity, deepening her understanding of the world around her, and awakening her desire to help others. She believes establishing an endowed scholarship in his name is the perfect way to create a living legacy for the person who had an outsized impact on her life.

A retired nurse, Sharon began her education at the Newport Hospital School of Nursing. After working for a couple of years, she decided to get her bachelor’s degree and came to Salve as a day student while continuing to work in the ICU at Newport Hospital. Since she mainly needed electives to finish her degree, Sharon spent most of her time studying liberal arts. She would later return to Salve as an instructor in the nursing department. This experience inspired her to continue her education.

Sharon has spent the majority of her adult life in Seattle, Washington. She attended graduate school at the University of Washington in the School of Nursing. She was employed by Medtronic from 1992 until retiring in 2014 from clinical study management for the cardiovascular division.

When it became time to begin planning her estate, Sharon started thinking about what mattered to her, how she got to where she is today, and who helped her along the way. While her nursing-related courses set her on a path to a meaningful and worthwhile career, Sharon credits Dr. Hersh and the humanities courses she took (philosophy, religious studies, and art history) with awakening a part of her that had been undeveloped—helping her to become a much more well-rounded person. “I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I hadn’t been Dr. Hersh’s student. His courses opened my eyes to other cultures and other points of view and sparked a desire in me to become a life-long learner.”

Sharon ultimately decided to create the Dr. W. James Hersh Endowed Scholarship to honor Dr. Hersh and support students who are inspired to work in the areas of cultural exchange, bridging societal differences and helping others who experience barriers to personal development. Sharon knows firsthand the impact scholarship support can have on a student’s educational journey. She also wanted to support students studying the liberal arts, believing they are undervalued today with the emphasis placed on STEM. “I think it is important that we create a balance between STEM and the liberal arts. This scholarship aims to support students whose aspirations and actions form connections between different cultures and religions such that a more just society can evolve.”

When asked what she would say to encourage others who are thinking about making a similar gift, she offered this advice: “Evaluate your life journey and recognize that even though you worked hard, you didn’t do it alone. There were institutions and teachers who supported you and helped you learn and grow. You can help future students have that same experience.”