Sharifa Merchant ’92, MBA ’97

Sharifa Merchant and her husband, Saban, immigrated to Wisconsin from India so their children could pursue their college education in the U.S. Once that goal was achieved, things took a turn toward Sharifa’s own education, although that was not in the plans.

At her full-time job in Madison, Sharifa had the opportunity to arrange and participate in a class for managers at Edgewood University. That one class led her to take more classes. Over time, she was encouraged by her employer and by her professors to seek a degree program which resulted in Sharifa completing both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Sharifa’s time here touched her personally. She feels Edgewood University, with its exceptional liberal arts education, was her stepping stone to a fuller life.

Now that she is retired, she wants to give back, both to her community and to Edgewood University. She has established estate-planned scholarships for talented students in financial need in both our Education and Nursing programs.

Her purpose is to enable students to fulfill their academic and career goals, which could then become THEIR stepping stone to serving their communities and laying the groundwork for others to benefit and serve.

She hopes to create opportunities for future generations to keep the cycle of learning and compassionate giving alive.