MORGANTOWN, W.VA. / AGILITYPR.NEWS / July 09, 2026 / Steptoe & Johnson congratulates Sharon Flanery, who on June 12 was named Chair of the Board of Directors of the West Virginia University Alumni Association. Flanery previously served as the Vice Chair of the Board and has been an active alumni supporter of WVU since earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1978, becoming the first female graduate of the program.

“I’m excited to continue supporting WVU and its mission through service on the WVU Alumni Association,” said Flanery. “I look forward to building on the excellent work of my predecessor, Zach Mendelson, and my Steptoe & Johnson colleague and Past Chair, Marilyn McClure-Demers.”

In recognition of Flanery’s leadership as Chair of Steptoe & Johnson’s Energy and Natural Resources Department, and her longstanding service to WVU, Steptoe & Johnson is pleased to announce the creation and endowment of the Sharon Flanery Alumni Opportunity Scholarship, which the firm is launching with a contribution of $50,000. Funds generated from this scholarship endowment will provide need-based undergraduate scholarships for students from Harrison County, WV, Flanery’s home county, where she was born and graduated from high school.

“Sharon is a cherished partner and friend, and a great leader. Her contributions at the firm have been transformational, and we are eager to see what she will accomplish for WVU as Chair of the WVUAA Board,” said Christopher Slaughter, CEO of Steptoe & Johnson. “We are so proud of Sharon, and so grateful for her contributions to the firm over the years, that we want to honor her achievements with the creation of this new scholarship.”

Flanery is a nationally recognized leader in energy and natural resources law. She is the Energy & Natural Resources Department Chair Emeritus at Steptoe & Johnson and serves as the Chair of the Advisory Board for the Institute for Energy Law.