Nov 22
Mar 29, 2018
Lake Superior State University President Peter Mitchell has recognized former faculty member and vice president for finance Sherry Brooks Demaray with an LSSU Distinguished Service Award for her years of significant contributions to the university.
“In looking back at Sherry’s work at Lake State from the vantage point of time and in my case, fresh eyes, it is obvious that her dedication and many achievements warranted this very special award,” said Mitchell. “This tribute enables Lake State to affirm Sherry’s devotion to the university and especially her dedication to doing all she could to help students.”
“Life is understood only in retrospect,” Mitchell added by quoting the philosopher Soren Kierkegaard.
“I am pleased and honored to be recognized in this special way,” said Brooks Demaray in accepting the citation. “The Soo will always be home to me. I have fond memories of the great people I was privileged to work with at LSSU and the outstanding students I met, who all hold a special spot in my heart.”
Brooks accomplished much during her 2009-16 tenure as LSSU’s vice president for finance. She was project manager for the $13.5 million renovation of South Hall into Considine Hall, now home to the Lukenda School of Business. She worked with a number of external agencies and LSSU staff to submit a capital outlay request to the Legislature that led to funding of the $11.8-million Center for Freshwater Research and Education (CFRE) project, slated for completion in 2020.
Brooks also oversaw the restructuring of LSSU’s long-term bond debt into a $3.5 million savings for the university, and chaired a committee that developed the university’s 20-year Master Plan. All of this on top of managing the business, purchasing, human resources, campus bookstore, physical plant, and Norris Center operations.
Prior to her 2009 cabinet appointment, was hired in 2008 as a faculty member in the School of Business to teaching courses in the area of accounting.
In 2012, Brooks joined with her daughter, LSSU nursing alumna Lisa Tetzlaff (Davidson), to endow a scholarship for accounting and nursing students. Brooks was on the LSSU Foundation finance committee for more than 10 years. She is a lifetime member and past president of the LSSU Alumni Association, and served its awards committee for 13 years. Outside of the university, Brooks stayed busy with local charity work, Rotary, and public service.
Brooks holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from LSSU, and is a Certified Public Accountant. She and her husband, Ken, moved to Clarksville, Tenn., in 2016, where she is the Associate Vice President for Finance at Austin Peay State University.
(This article was featured in the March 29 edition of the Sault News.)
NURSING, ACCOUNTING SCHOLARSHIP — Sherry Brooks joins with her daughter, LSSU nursing alumna Lisa Tetzlaff (Davidson), in 2012 to endow a scholarship for accounting and nursing students. (LSSU/John Shibley)