Sherrie Lawson is an educator, activist, and survivor whose work and life are rooted in service, healing, and transformation. With nearly two decades of experience in higher education and leadership development, she has dedicated herself to empowering the next generation of changemakers. A survivor of the 2013 Navy Yard shooting, Sherrie uses her lived experience with trauma to advocate for mental health support, connection, and resilience. Her work spans classrooms, communities, and national networks of survivors. She is always grounded in compassion, courage, and a deep commitment to others. She currently resides in Denver, Colorado, where she continues to teach, lead, and inspire.
In the true spirit of service and activism, Sherrie has a tremendous passion for developing the next generation of leaders. For over 20 years, she has taught both undergraduate and graduate students in business principles, theory, and their application to real-world practice. Her teaching journey has included positions at the former Nyack College/Alliance University (NY), the University of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC), and she has taught at the University of Colorado-Denver Campus since 2017, where she has consistently taught Organizational Development, Organizational Change and Leadership courses.
In addition to her academic roles, Sherrie has extensive experience designing and delivering training curricula across industries and coordinating leadership development efforts within communities. She established Epiphanie Consulting LLC in 2018 to offer leadership, management and organizational development coaching and training. Volunteering as Director of Operations for The Rebels Project (2016-2024) and serving as Director of Operations at Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute (2022-2025) has provided Sherrie with tangible examples of real world application when it comes to Organizational Leadership practices.
Sherrie’s own leadership development was furthered in 2008 through her participation in the DC Neighborhood College’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership at George Washington University. Shortly after completing this program, Sherrie was elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for Washingtonn D.C's Ward 7 (C06 district) applying her public leadership skills to local government and community support. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Nyack College, and is ABD (All but Dissertation) in Leadership and Organizational Change doctoral program at Walden University. Her research interests include management leadership, executive leadership and organizational change. She currently leads the Change Management Office at Colorado PERA, Colorado’s state pension fund.
Outside the classroom, Sherrie is a SoulCollage® facilitator who enjoys live music, international travel, yoga and meditation, and hiking the beautiful Rocky Mountains. She married Edward Kennedy in 2022 and they reside in Denver with their rescue kitty, Jax.
September 16, 2013 changed everything.
That morning, a gunman entered Building 197 at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., killing 12 people and injuring three. A seemingly normal workday ended with Sherrie fleeing for her life, running from the shooter and scaling an 8-foot brick wall alongside dozens of coworkers to escape. She knew three of the victims personally and had been working closely with two of them on active projects.
At the time, Sherrie was an elected official in Washington, D.C. and a doctoral candidate in a Leadership and Organizational Change program. Following the attack, she was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and severe anxiety.
Her journey of healing has been long and difficult—but also transformative. Today, she is deeply committed to supporting others living with the invisible wounds of trauma, using her story to help create space for vulnerability, connection, and recovery.
After surviving the Navy Yard shooting in 2013, Sherrie sought out others who were also grappling with the trauma of mass violence. Online, she connected with survivors from Columbine, Virginia Tech, Aurora, and Newtown, eventually finding a deep sense of belonging in The Rebels Project (TRP), a community founded by Columbine survivors to support those affected by mass trauma.
In 2014, Sherrie joined TRP and quickly became a vital part of its leadership. She began serving on the leadership team as Director of Operations from 2016 - 2024. While Sherrie has transitioned from her place on the leadership team, she continues to speak and offer workshops focused on healing and recovery after surviving mass tragedy.