Sharon Pearl Picking retires after 25 years in financial aid

Release Date
Sharon Pearl Picking sitting at her desk.

After more than 40 years in higher education, including 25 at HFC, Federal Program Manager Sharon Pearl Picking has decided to retire. Her last day will be January 5, 2026.

Picking is HFC’s longest-serving financial aid employee. Previously, she reported to Kevin Culler and L. Glenn O’Kray, both of whom have also retired from the College.

“I witnessed plenty of changes in financial aid and higher education over the course of 40 years,” said Picking, of Livonia. “When I started in 1985, the Higher Education Act of 1965, which created the concept of federal financial aid, was only 20 years old. The U.S. Department of Education, created in 1979, was only 5 years old. The Federal Pell Grant Program was also 5 years old. Students applied for financial aid using paper applications. We prepared financial aid payments by typing up and distributing disbursement authorizations with seven copies each.”

She reflected on the meaning of the changes over 40 years, noting that she has worked through eight reauthorizations of the Higher Education Act of 1965, including countless regulatory changes.

“I feel the time is right to retire,” she said. “A new group of people will come in and lead. I want to volunteer, to travel, and to garden while I’m still relatively young and healthy.”

Helping people achieve their dreams

A native of Dearborn, Picking is the youngest of three and the only daughter. She and her two brothers graduated from Fordson High School and HFC (then called Henry Ford Community College) as did Patrick Picking, her husband of 13 years. He has two sisters who also graduated from HFC. Her husband is retiring from Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn; his last day be the same as hers.

Picking earned her associate degree in general studies from HFC. Transferring to the University of Michigan-Dearborn, she earned her bachelor’s degree in political science. She completed coursework in Schoolcraft College’s Non-Profit Leadership Program and in the Wayne State University School of Labor Relations.

“I received an excellent education at HFC, which was my most affordable option. It laid the foundation for everything that would follow,” she recalled. “When I saw students earning their higher degrees, I realized I needed to get back on track and earn mine.”

Picking came to higher education by a quirk of fate. She was working at a law firm at the time when she randomly applied for an opening at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She ended up working or 15 years for U-M at both its main campus in Ann Arbor and its Dearborn campus.

“I started off in statistical services at U-M before moving over to financial aid. I really got to know the students and realized that working in higher ed has a purpose of helping people achieve their dreams. And just like that, it pulled me in,” she recalled.

Picking joined the College in 2000. O’Kray, who was HFC’s Director of Financial Aid at the time and is now an author, hired her.

“Sharon began her career at the College as a part-time employee while she was working in the Financial Aid Office at Henry Ford South — also known as UM-Dearborn,” joked O’Kray. “Her competence led us to hire her as a full-time employee. I happily look back on my years of working with her and recall her phenomenal attention to detail while also seeing the big picture!”

“It was critical for the College to improve things for students”

Picking led several technology implementation teams in Financial Aid during her time at HFC in an effort to modernize services for students in the 21st century.

“I had the opportunity to serve in many capacities with cross-functional teams at the College. I had some degree of technical aptitude, which was important because we might not have had sufficient personnel to make the needed changes. It was critical for the College to improve things for students,” she said.

Two important examples of technological advancements Picking participated in were:

  • Implementing ImageNow/Perceptive content imaging and workflow systems.
  • Launching the use of Next Gen’s electronic forms.

In 2018, HFC began to test the use of the Document Attachment Upload process in its Student Information System to allow students to electronically upload documents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Financial Aid was ready technologically to convert its work, processes, and communications with students to manage student needs.

“We converted many functions to an electronic format, which allowed other departments to do the same,” said Picking. “This, along with the ImageNow/Perceptive and Next Gen projects, allowed us to keep moving forward. I am very proud to have participated in this important work.”

Picking also served on the Local 71 Executive Board for 10 years, serving as Executive Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. She even taught the College Success course for seven years.

With the final days of her time at HFC passing quickly, Picking pondered what she would miss about HFC.

“It is bittersweet as I have been on this journey with so many colleagues for a very long time, and we have accomplished so much together over the last 2½ decades. I think of them not only as valued teammates but also as my work family and friends. I have appreciated their support over the years,” she said. “But it’s time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life, and I am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges that retirement will bring.”

First female vice-president and president of MCTOS

Both Picking and her husband are passionate about classic films and have been active volunteers since 2010 at the historic Redford Theatre in Detroit, which shows classic movies on the big screen. They have met several actors and actresses who have attended special events hosted at the Redford in the last 12-13 years, including:

“Tippi Hedren had that classic Hollywood elegance. She was a very classy lady,” said Picking. “My husband and I had a drink with Shirley Jones, alias Mrs. Partridge.”

Picking was the first female vice-president and the first female president of the Motor City Theatre Organ Society (MCTOS), which owns and operates the Redford.

“It was an honor to be elected and to lead the organization at such a high level. My presidency happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, unfortunately. At the time, everything was shutting down. I felt a great deal of responsibility that this historic building would not shut down permanently. We were very successful with that,” explained Picking.

Recently, she was reelected to the MCTOS Board of Directors for a 3-year term.

“Sharon's remarkable career is a testament to her dedication and commitment to the success of the students at every institution at which she has worked, including the past 25 years at HFC,” said her current supervisor, Adrian Robson. “Her leadership and knowledge have successfully guided us through countless changes in the administration of financial aid. She will be missed by everyone fortunate enough to have worked alongside her. We wish her the best as she begins this new chapter in her life.”

A note about retiree stories

We value the contributions of all our retirees. When we become aware of a colleague's official intent to retire, we reach out to them to ask if we can write a story about them, to share their contributions and allow others to recognize and appreciate them. Some of our retirees decline to participate in the retiree story series. We respect their wishes and their privacy. If there is a retiree whom you want to see recognized in this series, you can talk to that person or reach out to HFC Communications. We will let you know if the person has declined to have a story published. In some cases, we might not be aware of their plans to retire.

—HFC Marketing and Communications