'America's government teacher' Sharon McMahon to speak at UVU commencement

OREM — An educator and author hailed as "America's government teacher" will be the commencement speaker at this year's Utah Valley University graduation ceremony.

Sharon McMahon is a former history teacher turned "newsfluencer" based in Minnesota who is dedicated to informing people about government happenings, inspiring education for all and promoting the power of everyday kindness.

"Sharon McMahon is an original. She is a force of nature and a force for good. As a former history teacher, she understands that education can inform, inspire and instigate courageous action," said Astrid S. Tuminez, president of UVU.

McMahon's social media channel, called "Sharon Says So," encourages civic engagement through breaking down daily news, explaining government processes and answering questions submitted by her community of "governerds." Her newsletter and podcast, "The Preamble," dives deeper into political topics with nonpartisan explanations and historical context for current events.

McMahon's efforts to "empower informed discussions and civil disagreements" coincides with UVU's Our Better Selves for a Better America initiative, the university said. The presidential initiative aims to increase civil dialogue, conflict navigation and peacemaking in the face of disagreement and was created after the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk on UVU campus last September.

McMahon's debut book, "The Small and the Mighty" was published in 2024 and details "average Americans" who changed history through their small, but powerful actions. Her posts on social media frequently echo similar sentiments, highlighting the power individual actions have on improving communities.

"Sharon's work reminds us of the power we each hold, and that every individual is mighty in some way. She underlines how each of us can contribute to a vibrant democracy and how strength comes from knowledge, kindness and collective action. I think our graduates are very lucky to have her as commencement speaker," Tuminez said.

McMahon's social presence also emphasizes the importance of charity. She has started dozens of giving campaigns — raising more than $13.5 million — for disaster recovery, classroom grants and medical expenses for families in need.

"I am deeply grateful for this honor from UVU, whose work reflects the very best of what education can do: expand opportunity, strengthen communities and prepare people to serve the world around them," McMahon said. "It is a privilege to be recognized by an institution with that kind of impact."

In a world full of chaos and uncertainty, McMahon champions the power of hope despite living through what she dubbed a "period of extraordinary political exhaustion."

"Trust in virtually every major American institution has fallen to historic lows. ... Social media has trained us to experience every political development as either a catastrophe or a victory, with nothing in between. Many Americans have responded in the most human way possible: They have decided to stop caring," McMahon wrote in a recent Glamour magazine article.

"I am here to argue that this is precisely the wrong response — and that hope, far from being naive, is the most rational and historically grounded stance available to us," she wrote. "Hope is the recognition that the future has not yet been finalized — and that we get a say in how the story ends. It is a claim about what is still possible, and it is a claim that American history validates again and again."

McMahon will be the keynote speaker at UVU's commencement ceremony on April 29 where she will receive an honorary doctorate of education. Brandon Fugal of Coldwell Banker Commercial and Colliers International will receive an honorary doctorate of business; American pianist, author and political activist Daryl Davis will receive an honorary doctorate of fine arts; and Nathan and Shannon Savage will receive honorary doctorates of humane letters for their contributions to leadership and education in Utah.

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