Sharon Szymanski

Sharon Szymanski is a professor of political economy and labor economics at the State University of New York (SUNY) Empire State College, where she teaches at the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School of Labor Studies in New York City. A dedicated educator and labor scholar, Sharon has spent her career studying and teaching the economic systems and power structures that shape workers’ lives. She is also a proud union member of United University Professions (UUP), and her commitment to labor justice is not just academic—it’s personal and lived.

While teaching an apprenticeship course for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Sharon had a pivotal moment that would expand her work into children’s literature. In a class that included seven women apprentices, one of them asked, “Why aren’t there more women electricians?” That question struck a chord—and sparked action. Sharon pointed out that many girls and young women simply don’t know that careers in the building trades are open to them. The student responded with determination: “Well then, let’s write a children’s book and tell them this program is GREAT!”

Inspired by this exchange, Sharon collaborated with the seven apprentices and a talented illustrator to create WIREWOMEN: Lighting It Up—a children’s book that tells the real-life stories of women union electricians. The book aims to inspire young readers, especially girls, to explore careers in the skilled trades and see themselves in roles that have traditionally excluded them. By helping demystify and humanize the world of union labor, Sharon brings her academic insights into an accessible, empowering format for the next generation. Her work continues to bridge the gap between theory and practice, showing how education can be a force for equity, inclusion, and change.