After nearly 21 years of Extension roles, Sharon Lezberg, Community Development Educator, has retired. Sharon joined Dane County after nine years with UW–Madison Extension as an Outreach Specialist and Associate Scientist, bringing deep experience in community engagement, environmental resources, and food systems.
During her time in Dane County, Sharon led a wide range of community development efforts, focusing on nonprofit capacity building, housing, broadband, sustainability, local food entrepreneurship, and overall community well-being. At the core of her work was a commitment to helping local governments and organizations include, inform, and uplift community voices, ensuring that decisions reflect the needs and experiences of the people they affect.
Sharon contributed to many important initiatives over the years. She co-led the Edible Startup Summit, supporting emerging food entrepreneurs in partnership with DATCP. She guided housing task forces in Waunakee, Mt. Horeb, and DeForest to strengthen affordable housing strategies. She supported the Dane County Broadband Task Force, helping secure funding for a county Broadband Coordinator. Sharon also played a key role in developing Stoughton’s Sustainability Plan and contributed to statewide solar development outreach in Portage County.
Her work with nonprofits was another major hallmark of her career. Sharon facilitated annual strategic planning processes with local organizations, supported board leadership training, and helped strengthen nonprofit governance across the county. In recent years, she focused on environmental justice and climate resilience, co-developing a Tree Stewards program, supporting youth sustainability learning, and partnering with community organizations to create educational tools and videos that highlight environmental justice work.
Sharon’s leadership, thoughtful facilitation, and commitment to community-centered decision-making have made a lasting impact on Dane County. We are grateful for her years of service and wish her a wonderful retirement filled with rest, joy, and new adventures.
