First elected in 2006, Sheryl Cole is the first African American woman elected to the Austin City Council. She was re-elected in 2009, and in 2011 she was elevated by her Council peers to Mayor Pro Tem.
A resident of Austin for more than 25 years, Sheryl earned her B.A. in accounting from the University of Texas and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1986, working for two years with the Big Five accounting firm of Ernst & Young. In 1989, Sheryl returned to the University of Texas for law school, earning her J.D. in 1991 and joining the law firm Wright & Greenhill, practicing law for more than 15 years. In 1995, Sheryl became staff counsel at the Texas Municipal League, where she served until 2001.
Married to Austin attorney Kevin Cole, Sheryl is the mother of three boys – Marcus, Nelson and Femi. The Coles live in the Wilshire Woods neighborhood, and are members of the Cherrywood Neighborhood Association. The family belongs to David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.
Sheryl is a past president of the Lee Elementary School PTA, a former Board member of Leadership Austin, the Austin Area Urban League, and Communities in Schools. Sheryl also served as Tri-Chair of the 2004 Austin ISD Citizen Bond Committee, and was appointed by former mayor Kirk Watson to serve on the 1998 City of Austin Citizen Bond Committee.
As Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl currently serves on the following council subcommittees:
- Audit and Finance Committee, Chair
- Comprehensive Plan and Transportation Committee, Chair
- Minority-Owned Business Enterprise and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Subcommittee
Sheryl serves as the City of Austin representative on the following boards:
- CAMPO Transportation Policy Board
- Lone Star Rail Policy Board
- Downtown Austin Alliance Board of Directors
Sheryl has been the recipient of numerous community awards including:
- Austin Chronicle’s Best Council Stewards for the Office of Sheryl Cole in 2006;
- Travis County Women Lawyer’s Association Pathfinder Award in 2007;
- Community Leadership Circle Award from the University of Texas at Austin in 2008;
- Texas Homeless Network Outstanding Community Service Award in 2010;
- John and Kitty Holman Award from the National Alliance of Mental Illness Austin in 2010;
- Women Who Do Award from The George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center in 2011
- Garnet F. Coleman Eternal Flame Award from the Central Texas African American Family Support Conference in 2011
- Outstanding Community Leader from the Texas Legislative Black Caucus in 2011
- Distinguished Achievement in Public Service from the Central Texas Chapter of National Forum for Black Public Administrators in 2011
