Scranton Stories is an oral history video series featuring 33 individuals who have lived or worked in the city of Scranton. These videos are part of the larger project, Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story, which is a community-wide exploration of themes such as history, belonging, and identity. DiscoverNEPA will share these unique, personal “Scranton Stories” in the lead-up to the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.
Finding His Voice, Expanding Opportunity
As a youth, Sherman Wooden had a harsh stutter. His military family moved from Washington D.C. to Susquehanna County, where they encountered a friendly community through their involvement with their local church. In high school, Sherman had to decide between pursuing a basketball scholarship, or continuing a program run by Marywood University specifically curated for students who stuttered. After his mother advised him that he could play basketball anytime, anywhere, Sherman enrolled in the program at Marywood and found a new freedom in being able to talk.
He later attended Howard University, an historically Black college/university and from there, he dedicated his life to education, and the improvement of accessibility to higher education for all students, regardless of background. He worked for 20 years as the director of multicultural affairs at the University of Scranton, where he is proud to have provided a welcoming environment for diverse students and built stronger relationships between the institution and the city. He challenges people to participate in all aspects of their community.
