Sharon Secor
Sharon Secor has devoted her life to serving others, strengthening communities, and building lasting partnerships between people in the United States and Kenya. A sociologist by training, Sharon has a particular gift for developing relationships, mentoring others, and bringing people together around a shared purpose.
Sharon’s connection to Kenya began in 1995 while serving as Youth Director at First Presbyterian Church in Fargo, North Dakota. After leading her first mission trip to Kenya in 1996 she began a remarkable journey of service that has taken her to Kenya more than 100 times. Over three decades, she has helped build enduring partnerships with the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) and communities throughout Kenya.
Sharon was a founding member of the Kenya Oral Health Initiative who’s mission is to provide immediate, comprehensive, and preventive dental services to the general population in Kenya, with special emphasis on the poorest, most vulnerable segments of Kenyan society.
Her leadership has contributed to the establishment of dental clinics in Kikuyu and Chogoria and to numerous community development initiatives, including the Mpangua School. She has also helped establish educational and healthcare partnerships involving the University of Jamestown, North Dakota State University, and Montana State University with PCEA Chogoria Hospital, creating opportunities for students to learn through service in Kenya.
Sharon was a founding member and board member of For the Good PERIOD, a nonprofit dedicated to menstrual health equity in Kenya. Her extraordinary commitment to international health and service has been recognized through numerous honors, including Woman of the Year and designation as an Honorary Fellow of the International College of Dentists.
Sharon’s life and work reflect a deep belief that meaningful change begins with relationships, trust, and service. Her enduring commitment to Kenya and to developing the next generation of service-minded leaders continues to inspire those who work alongside her.
Most importantly, Sharon is a wife, mother, and grandmother of twelve. Her grandchildren lovingly call her Cucu, the Kenyan word for grandmother—a fitting reflection of the deep and lasting connection she has built with the people and communities of Kenya.