Sharon Dupont McCord

Presented by the ASU Foundation, the Philanthropist of the Year Award celebrates those whose generosity and philanthropic leadership further Arizona State University’s mission. Those recognized by this honor are exemplars of how individual giving can have a meaningful impact on social issues and people’s lives.

Sharon Dupont McCord, a visionary philanthropist with a passion for business education, is this year’s recipient of the Philanthropist of the Year Award.

• Launched the McCord Scholars initiative with her late husband, opening doors for Arizona business students.
• Supported the establishment of McCord Hall at the W. P. Carey School of Business.
• Serves as a member of the ASU President’s Club, Dean’s Council of 100 and ASU Women and Philanthropy.

Sharon Dupont McCord exemplifies purpose and possibility through her enduring partnership with Arizona State University. Her story reflects a lifelong devotion to learning and to building strong connections. Sharon started her professional journey as a French teacher in New York, went on to teach at ASU, and ultimately built a successful real estate business, using her fluency in French and Spanish to serve clients across Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, and Phoenix. Her talent and perseverance earned her Coldwell Banker’s International President’s Elite distinction, placing her among the top one percent of agents worldwide in their Hall of Fame.

At ASU, Sharon has combined her passion for education and business through visionary philanthropy. Sharon and her late husband, Bob McCord, launched the McCord Scholars initiative, the largest single-donor undergraduate scholarship gift in ASU’s history at the time. This effort has opened doors for business students at all three Arizona public universities, fostering leadership and character development through mentorship and campus involvement.

Sharon’s contributions have transformed ASU’s future. Her support brought McCord Hall to life at the W. P. Carey School of Business, a vibrant center for graduate and executive programs, including nationally ranked MBA offerings. She has also strengthened real estate development and marketing through the McCord Endowed Chair of Business and advanced sustainability and cross-disciplinary research with a major gift to the Intellectual Fusion Investment Fund. These efforts have elevated ASU’s academic distinction and inspired additional partnerships from local companies and families, amplifying the reach of her impact.

Sharon has played an active role in ASU philanthropic and volunteer leadership. She is a lifetime member of the ASU President’s Club and is a founding member of the business school’s Dean’s Council of 100. She is a current Trustee of ASU and an active member of ASU Women and Philanthropy, where she also serves on the Executive Cabinet. Her leadership has helped advance the group's mission of engaging women to pool resources annually to advance student success, faculty innovation, and bold university initiatives.

Over four decades, Sharon’s involvement has extended to more than a dozen areas across the university, demonstrating extraordinary dedication and influence. For Sharon, giving is deeply personal, rooted in trust, collaboration, and alignment with the tenets of ASU’s Charter. Every McCord Scholar and every idea sparked in McCord Hall affirms a simple truth: when access meets ambition, communities thrive.

Sharon McCord’s legacy stands as a testament to excellence, building a more sustainable, innovative, and accessible future for all.