First elected in 2006, Sheryl Cole is the first African American woman elected to the Austin City Council.
A resident of Austin for over 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 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. 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.
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 AISD Citizen Bond Committee, and was appointed by former mayor Kirk Watson to serve on the 1998 City of Austin Citizen Bond Committee.
Sheryl serves as the City of Austin representative on the following boards:
- CAMPO Transportation Policy Board
- Austin-San Antonio Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District
- Downtown Austin Alliance Board of Directors
