Sharon Epperson is a highly respected financial expert, journalist, author and motivational speaker.
As CNBC's Senior Commodities and Personal Finance Correspondent, she covers the global energy, metals and commodities markets from the floor of the New York Mercantile Exchange and also reports on personal finance for the network, CNBC.com and other NBC Universal properties. Sharon is a regular contributor on NBC's Today and appears frequently on NBC Nightly News, MSNBC and NBC affiliates nationwide. She also often reports for Public Television's Nightly Business Report.
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 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's personal finance expertise has been featured in numerous 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.
She is committed to improving financial literacy, particularly in underserved communities. She has been invited to the White House to speak about financial literacy and to moderate a public meeting of the President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability at the U.S. Treasury Department. She also speaks frequently at conferences and events for local and national organizations, colleges and universities about many facets of personal finance.
Sharon has been honored with numerous accolades for her professional and civic achievements. She has received 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 of reports 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.
In February 2013, she received the Westchester Trailblazer Award for her efforts to improve business and economic development in the African American community and was recognized by U.S. Congresswoman Nina Lowey and other New York government officials for her professional achievements. General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt and the African-American Forum at GE awarded her the ICON Growth Award in 2010 for her leadership in working to improve financial literacy worldwide.
She has received the Making the Difference Award from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling for her distinguished public service and the William A. Forbes Public Awareness Award from the Council for Economic Education, where she has served on the board and executive committee.
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.
An adjunct professor at Columbia University's School of International Public Affairs for more than a decade, Sharon enjoys teaching the importance of budgeting and building long-term savings as part of her course on professional development for graduate students interested in media careers.
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.
