Sue Sharkey has long been involved in leadership and business in Colorado, Sharkey served two elected terms (12 years) on The University of Colorado’s Board of Regents. She was elected to represent Colorado’s 4th Congressional District in 2010 and reelected in 2016. Sharkey has served in various leadership roles as a Regent. She served as Chair of the Board of Regents from 2017-2019, as Vice-Chair of the Board of Regents in 2013-2014, 2021-2022. In addition, she chaired the Academic Affairs Committee, Governance Committee, Capital Construction Committee, Awards Committee, Strategic Planning Committee. She also served as Vice Chair of the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, University Affairs Committee, and the university liaison for the Colorado Health Board. Along with the various committees, Sharkey also served as the Regent liaison to the CU Foundation board for nine years. She was Vice Chair on the search committee for the President of The University of Colorado. Her last action as a Regent was to vote in favor of Coach “Prime” Deion Sanders football contract at CU Boulder.
In 2012 Sharkey was instrumental in getting House Bill 1350 passed, which extends resident student tuition to active-duty military personnel and their dependents pursuing their education at CU. Sharkey initiated this by bringing forth a Resolution to the Board of Regents with a statement of support, following a request to the legislature to bring forward a Bill to implement this into law.
Sharkey was a member of the 2008-2009 class of the Leadership Program of the Rockies.
In 2016 Sharkey joined the advisory council for One Chance to Grow Up, a role in which she continues to serve.
In 2017 Sharkey was nominated by Arthur Brooks, President of the American Enterprise Institute into their leadership program.
In 2019 Sharkey joined the Board of Directors of the Colorado Women’s Foundation and served through 2022.
In 2021 Sharkey was elected as President to the WWII 306th Bomb Group Historical Association board, a role in which she currently serves. The 306th was the bombardier group her father served as a B-17 bomber pilot in WWII.
June 2023 Sharkey was appointed to the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Foundation Board.
August 2023 Sharkey was appointed a Trustee to The University of Colorado Foundation.
Raised in a military family, Sharkey has lived both overseas and across the country, but considers Colorado Springs her home. After her father’s career in the Air Force, he became a small business owner in Colorado Springs where Sharkey learned the family business and enjoyed the opportunity to work alongside her parents. When the business was sold, she went on to work at the El Paso County District Attorney’s office. She later embraced the world of marketing and public relations in banking, beginning her banking career at The First National Bank of Colorado Springs.