You’ve been with the American Hospital Association since 2011 and, before that, worked with the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and the American Nurses Association. You’ve been managing PACs since 1993. How did this all begin?

My interest in public service began early. I first got involved in student government in the second grade, when a teacher asked for a volunteer, and I shyly raised my hand. That small moment sparked a lifelong commitment to leadership and civic engagement, which continued throughout high school and into college.

At the University of Maryland, I sought out the student government office shortly after arriving on campus — only to discover it was led by a group called the Monarchist Party. Their approach was whimsical and creative: The student body president was known as “King James,” and the office was decorated with medieval tapestries, shields and costumes. Despite the theatrics, they were responsible for managing nearly $1 million in student activity funds on behalf of a student body of 40,000.

As a commuter, I was affectionately given the title “Lady Shari of Lot 4 in the Outlands,” a nod to my long trek from the farthest parking lot on campus. But beneath the humor was a serious and meaningful experience that helped me build community and discover a deep, lasting passion for public affairs — a passion that has guided me throughout my personal and professional life.

And you actually launched a PAC as a student?

I did. I was fortunate to have some incredible opportunities during college, including interning for the Democratic National Committee’s Women’s Caucus during the 1992 Democratic National Convention. The energy and enthusiasm among young people at that time was truly contagious. Once Bill Clinton secured the nomination, many of us hit the campaign trail — traveling from city to city, often staying on friends’ couches, simply for the chance to be part of something bigger.

A particularly memorable moment came during the lead-up to the convention, when I had the opportunity to sit at a table with Hillary Clinton and EMILYs List founder Ellen Malcolm. I was particularly impressed when I saw a segment on 60 Minutes when Ellen shared how she launched EMILYs List by combining the Rolodexes of like-minded women committed to making a difference. That moment was a spark for me.

Soon after, as a student at the Graduate School of Political Management at the George Washington University, I founded a PAC — with almost no training — modeled after EMILYs List with the intent to raise money for a young generation of Democrats who wanted to run for Congress. We raised nearly $75,000, largely through small-dollar donations, which we considered a great success at the time. Our work was impactful enough that a state PAC with a similar mission was later launched in Maryland. Some of the early candidates we supported have since risen to leadership roles in the Maryland legislature — and to this day we stay in touch.

With the launch of two PACs and early, hands-on experience in political organizing, it quickly became clear that this work was more than a passion — it was the beginning of a long-term career in advocacy and political engagement, with a healthy dose of fun along the way. That journey has since led me to manage PAC operations for three of the nation’s leading health care associations, including the American Hospital Association.