DeMarcus Sharpe

After serving in the Marines for 4 years and wanting a career change, DeMarcus Sharpe’s first job post-military was with a company affiliated with Caltrans, where he assisted women and minorities in starting their businesses and securing contracts with Caltrans. After working with the company for a few years, DeMarcus transitioned to Sixth College in October of 2002 when the college was 2-3 months old, aiming to use his financial background to help the college grow and develop his role within the college. DeMarcus is one of Sixth College's longest-serving employees, having been with the college for 21 years.

As the Office Manager of the Sixth Residential Life Staff Team, Demarcus oversees student conduct processes and manages all financial budget aspects. He assists with the expenses associated with the events organized by the Residential Assistants, handling transactions for purchases of the food and supplies for each event. Demarcus also oversees the Residential Life Front Desk Interns, including their training and hiring, and manages other office-related tasks, such as submitting work orders for issues like malfunctioning key cards.

One of Demarcus’s favorite parts of his position is connecting with the student staff. He enjoys mentoring students and learning about their interests and future goals. It is particularly rewarding for Demarcus to hire student interns for their first job, see them excel at their positions, and become a reference for students for their first job post-graduation. By helping students build their resumes, Demarcus is the stepping stone for many students into the workforce.  

In addition to his other responsibilities, Demarcus helped organize the Sixth College 20th-year anniversary celebration in 2021, which entailed closing off Scholars Drive for food booths, carnival-style rides, a Ferris wheel, and various tables from different college offices. From planning and attending the event, Demarcus loved reconnecting with past students and staff to see what they’ve accomplished since they graduated college. Overall, it was an amazing experience to sit back and reflect on what the college was like when it first opened to where it is now. Reflecting on the past 20+ years at the college, from its opening to the present, Demarcus is proud to have such a pivotal role within Sixth College. 

In his free time, Demarcus enjoys gardening. He loves going to the nursery and picking out a new plant, tree, or bush. One of his favorite places to hang out is his backyard, where he can plant new seeds and watch the growth of his plants. Demarcus’s favorite plant is his yellow tulip bush, which he can enjoy the presence of flowers year-round. He also has a plum, peach, and apple tree, which sprout beautiful flowers in the springtime before the fruit comes. Demarcus encourages all students to try gardening, even if it’s a small plant in their dorm rooms because gardening has been therapeutic and rewarding for him. 

Demarcus’s daughter, who is the same age as the college, was only a few months old when he started his position, and now she is graduating. It was incredible for Demarcus to witness his daughter grow up alongside the college and his role within Sixth. After participating in 20 Sixth College commencements, handing out programs, greeting parents, and overseeing seating arrangements, Demarcus will soon be on the opposite side, where he will watch his daughter graduate from the audience. One of Demarcus’s guiding principles is to be the best father and role model for his 3 daughters. Because he’s achieved many of his goals already, Demarcus is looking forward to spending time with his family and enjoying the next chapter of his life as it comes.