Sharp arrived at UNH in 2009. She received her MS and PhD at the Pennsylvania State University also in human development and family studies. Sharp teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in adolescent development, research methods, human sexuality, and family theory. Her research, published work, and presentations focus on out-of-school activity involvement as a context for development; parental, family, and broader contextual influences on adolescent development; and prevention research and theory from a positive youth development perspective. Sharp has served on a range of committees at UNH including several search committees, the dissertation year fellowship committee, and the Winant fellowship committee, and as a faculty senator, she has served as the chair of two committees: campus planning and finance and administration.