ELIZABETH SHERRELL-DAVIS, Ph.D.
SACRAMENTO,CA
Summary
Visionary executive and certified coach with 30 years of cross-sector experience in higher education, government, corporate, and nonprofit sectors. Led statewide learning initiatives and developed high-performing teams to advance equity-centered strategies, preparing diverse learners for leadership, workforce, and entrepreneurial success.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Career Coach
Randstad RiseSmart
01.2026 - Current
- Delivered one-on-one virtual career coaching to clients in career transition, supporting goal setting, job-search strategy, and professional development.
- Guided clients in identifying strengths, transferable skills, and viable career pathways aligned with their experience and objectives.
- Tailored resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, and other job-search materials to align with clients' target roles, enhancing their marketability.
- Coached clients for interviews, networking conversations, salary discussions, and employer engagement, improving their confidence and readiness.
- Developed accountability-based action plans, tracked client progress, and documented coaching outcomes, ensuring adherence to program requirements and facilitating client success.
- Facilitated personalized career coaching sessions, guiding clients through job search strategies and resume development.
Founder & President
Signature of Excellence Coaching & Consulting Firm
01.2023 - Current
- Delivered executive coaching, leadership development, and organizational consulting for government, education, nonprofit, and corporate professionals, enhancing their leadership capabilities.
- Provide executive coaching, leadership development, and organizational consulting for government, education, nonprofit, and corporate professionals.
- Operated a coaching and consulting firm, providing customized strategy, leadership, and professional-development services that aligned with client goals.
- Managed full client lifecycle, overseeing lead generation, sales consultations, proposals, contracts, onboarding, coaching, consulting, and follow-up to ensure client satisfaction.
- Developed tailored action plans, facilitated coaching sessions and workshops, and tracked client progress toward measurable goals.
- Directed business operations, including marketing, budgeting, scheduling, invoicing, customer relationship management, and process improvement.
Adjunct Business Instructor
Folsom Lake College, Prison Reentry Education Program
01.2017 - Current
- Taught business, diversity, law, personal finance, leadership, and entrepreneurship courses in classroom, hybrid, and virtual settings to diverse and justice-impacted students within correctional facilities.
- Designed practical, inclusive curriculum to enhance workforce readiness, financial capability, leadership skills, entrepreneurship, and successful reentry outcomes.
- Facilitated discussions to promote critical thinking among diverse student populations.
- Selected to represent Folsom Lake College at the 2024 ADES Summit in Ghana.
Instructional Design Manager
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
Sacramento, CA
01.2017 - 2024
- Led statewide leadership-development and learning strategy impacting 80,000+ employees; supervised instructional designers and directed hiring, coaching, performance management, and staff development.
- Coordinated staff training programs to improve service delivery quality.
- Planned and delivered 14+ training and program activities for newly promoted and existing non-custody and peace officer staff to enhance professional development.
- Acted as an implicit bias subject-matter expert and co-led Government Alliance on Race and Equity initiatives supporting a five-year equity strategy across 35 correctional institutions and pilot offices.
- Recognized as Executive of the Year (2020).
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative design solutions for correctional facilities.
President, Immediate Past President & Committee Leader
National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Sacramento Chapter
01.2015 - 01.2022
- Led 17-member board, overseeing strategic initiatives in education, economic empowerment, public policy, equity, professional development, governance, and fiscal accountability, fostering organizational growth.
- Built partnerships with school districts, nonprofits, community leaders, and philanthropic supporters, advancing programs that specifically address needs of the underserved communities.
- Developed partnerships with local organizations to enhance community outreach and support programs.
- Received Model Chapter of the year
- Received Non-Profit Community Service Award
Adjunct Faculty / Business and Leadership Instructor
Cosumnes River College; Brandman University; Heald College; Art Institute of California; University of Phoenix
01.2009 - 01.2017
- Delivered associate, graduate, and undergraduate courses in management, organizational leadership, marketing, business law, communications, cultural diversity, human resources, ethics, entrepreneurship, and critical thinking, fostering critical skills in diverse student populations.
- Designed and facilitated engaging learning experiences for working adults and career-focused students through Canvas, Blackboard, Desire2Learn, and virtual learning platforms, enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes.
- Developed and delivered comprehensive leadership curriculum aligned with institutional goals.
- Facilitated workshops to enhance student engagement and critical thinking skills.
- Mentored aspiring leaders, providing guidance on professional development and career planning.
Faculty Recruiter / Associate Faculty
University of Phoenix
01.2005 - 01.2010
- Led faculty recruitment and workforce-planning strategies for business, science, and technology programs, enhancing diverse faculty pipelines through collaboration with academic leaders.
- Acted as associate faculty in management communication, team collaboration and conflict resolution, critical thinking, writing, and cultural diversity.
- Developed recruitment strategies to attract diverse talent pools.
- Conducted comprehensive candidate screenings and assessments.
- Collaborated with academic departments to understand staffing needs.
Education
Ph.D. - Organization and Management
Capella University
MinneapolisMaster of Arts - Management
University of Phoenix
Sacramento, CABachelor of Science - Business Management
University of Phoenix
Sacramento, CAAdvanced Life Coach Program -
Lumia Coaching Program
Los Angeles, CASkills
- Leadership development
- Career Development Coaching
- Instructional Design
- Learning strategy
- Executive & Organizational Leadership
- Career transition strategy
- Strategic Planning
- Diversity strategies
- Employment Readiness Training
- Organizational Development
- Sector partnerships
Accomplishments
- 80,000+ employees supported through statewide learning strategy
- 14+ leadership and workforce programs directed
- 25 correctional institutions supported through Basic Supervision training implementation
- 15+ years teaching business, leadership, management and diversity-focused coursework
Timeline
Career Coach
Randstad RiseSmart
01.2026 - Current
Founder & President
Signature of Excellence Coaching & Consulting Firm
01.2023 - Current
Adjunct Business Instructor
Folsom Lake College, Prison Reentry Education Program
01.2017 - Current
Instructional Design Manager
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
01.2017 - 2024
President, Immediate Past President & Committee Leader
National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Sacramento Chapter
01.2015 - 01.2022
Adjunct Faculty / Business and Leadership Instructor
Cosumnes River College; Brandman University; Heald College; Art Institute of California; University of Phoenix
01.2009 - 01.2017
Faculty Recruiter / Associate Faculty
University of Phoenix
01.2005 - 01.2010
Ph.D. - Organization and Management
Capella University
Master of Arts - Management
University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
University of Phoenix
Advanced Life Coach Program -
Lumia Coaching Program
Additional Skills
- Executive Leader
- Higher Education Faculty
- Organizational Development Strategist
- Servant Leader
- Change Management
- Higher Ed in Correctional Systems