Sheryl Mellott McGuire

College was not a focus for Sheryl Mellott McGuire’s family, and there was no money for it. So she worked throughout college, earning 75% of her college expenses. Among her large extended family, she was the first person in Tulsa, second in Pennsylvania, to graduate from college. At OSU she earned a B.S. in Education, an M.S. in Applied Behavioral Studies, achieving the Presidential and Dean’s Honor Rolls.

For six years, Dr. McGuire was a special education teacher specializing in moderate to severe mental and learning disabilities. During that time, she observed that many children lacked early childhood opportunities, which led to developmental delays. To answer this need, she led the founding of Celebrations Preschool, a nonprofit in Oklahoma City, for low-income, at-risk children, and served as Director for eight years.

At OU, Dr. McGuire earned a Ph.D. with Honors in Leadership in Adult Learning and Higher Education (Organizational Leadership and Change, Human Resources). She served on the OU faculty for 32 years in a non-traditional, masters-level program, teaching Leadership, Group Dynamics, Psychological Theory, and Conflict Resolution on military bases in the U.S. and worldwide. She served as Assistant Director of the Bureau of Government Research at OU, conducting research in automobile safety, including seat belts and child safety seats. She later developed and became Lead Consultant in a unique leadership development program for vocational rehabilitation managers in agencies throughout the US and its territories.

Dr. McGuire has lived and worked with a purpose: “Help People Grow.” That philosophy led her to become a founding member and former vice president of the Board of Directors for Will Rogers High School Community Foundation. She is the author of numerous articles and training materials, as well as co-author of a best-selling book, “Ready, Set, Go!” with Brian Tracy. She continues to work as a speaker and writer, and has consulted with numerous businesses, governmental and nonprofit agencies in leadership, personal development, human resources, and change.