An award-winning journalist and author, Sharon Epperson is a highly respected expert on key issues that are on the top of the minds of investors and consumers around the world — particularly energy and commodities prices and overall personal financial security.
At CNBC, she covers the global energy, metals and commodities markets daily from the floor of the New York Mercantile Exchange and contributes special reports on personal finance for the network and CNBC.com. She has also hosted CNBC special programs and has been a fill-in anchor on several CNBC shows.
Sharon is also a regular contributor on NBC's "Today" and Today.com and appears frequently on "NBC Nightly News," MSNBC and NBC affiliates nationwide.
She brings her personal finance expertise to many publications including USA Weekend, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Self, Essence, Ebony and Time, where she covered business, culture, social issues and health as a correspondent prior to joining CNBC.
Her first book, "The Big Payoff: 8 Steps Couples Can Take to Make the Most of Their Money—And Live Richly Ever After" (HarperCollins), was a finalist for the 2008 Books For A Better Life Awards, honoring works that have "changed the lives of millions." She also was a contributing writer in the book, "The Experts' Guide To Doing Things Faster" (Random House).
Sharon is committed to improving financial literacy, especially among young people. She speaks frequently to local and national organizations, colleges and universities. An adjunct professor at Columbia University's School of International Public Affairs, she teaches the importance of budgeting and long-term savings as part of her course on professional development for graduate students interested in media careers.
She has served on the board of directors of the Council for Economic Education, which recently awarded her with the William A. Forbes Public Awareness Award. She has also served on the boards of the eWomen Network Foundation, Family Services of Westchester, and Jack and Jill of America Inc., Westchester Chapter. She received the 2010 Making the Difference Award from the National Foundation For Credit Counseling for her distinguished public service. General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt and the African-American Forum at GE awarded her the 2010 ICON Growth Award for her leadership in working to improve financial literacy worldwide.
She has received numerous honors for her journalistic achievements, including the Vanguard Award for her distinguished career in business and personal finance reporting from the National Urban League Guild, the All-Star Award from the Association of Women in Communications and the prestigious Gracie Allen Award from the American Women in Radio and Television for a series on female CEOs. She also has won awards from the New York Festivals, the New York Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Black Journalists.
Sharon received her Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and government from Harvard University and a Master of International Affairs degree from Columbia University.
A Pittsburgh native, Sharon lives with her husband and two children in Westchester County, N.Y.
Follow Sharon Epperson on Twitter @sharon_epperson.
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