SHERYL NUNN, PH.D.

1. Why did you choose to make Southwest PA your home? I moved here for a job transfer with FirstEnergy and we loved how welcoming the community was, which was very important. PA is a beautiful place to live and our community has been a great place to raise our family

2. Tell us a little about your family. I am married with children. Our last one just turned eighteen.  We are excited to see them flourish.

3. How did you choose the career you’re in today? I didn’t choose my career; my career chose me. My career has been quite untraditional. In my early years I was a nursing assistant for a large hospital in Ohio. I then went to school for Electrical Engineering Technology. While in school I obtained a position within FirstEnergy and eventually advanced to a Distribution System Operator working closely with line workers who fix the power lines and restore power for our customers. I moved into human resources after obtaining my MBA. I learned how to better understand people and how to help them learn and grow. I recently obtained my Ph.D. in Business Administration specializing in organizational leadership. I was invited to help lead our culture transformation efforts within our company.

4. What do you love most about your job? Being able to engage with employees and truly understand what is on their hearts and minds – and how FirstEnergy can help make the employee experience even better for them. There is so much pride in their hearts and I love that I get to connect with them.

5. What is something people might not know about you? I was born in Germany as my parents were in the Air Force.

6. Why do you think it’s so important to give back to your community? When my children and I were younger, we received a lot of community support and public assistance. I honestly don’t know how we would have managed at times. I can personally speak to the importance of giving back and helping others. Sometimes we just need a hand, an ear, or positive encouragement to find our way.

7. What are some of your hobbies or favorite things to do outside of work? I love to eat good food and have grown a love for cooking and trying out new recipes.

8. What is your favorite United Way memory? My favorite memory is when I was able to be a part of the grant review process. I learned a lot from that experience and gained a better understanding of how United Way organizes the requests. I also was able to see just how wide the variety of support they provide extends. It was a really cool experience.