Sheryl Ness was inspired to become a nurse by her father’s mother, who was one of the first formally trained nurses of her time. Sheryl has a master’s degree in Transcultural Nursing from Augsburg University in Minneapolis. She works as a medical writer and nurse for Mayo Clinic based in Rochester, Minnesota. 

Her interest and love for the appreciation of cultures has been a strong influence in her life and inspired her to travel to other areas of the world—always curious for knowledge from cultural traditions of places and how this influence defines a person’s world. 

Sheryl and her husband, Vincenzo Giangiordano, now live in Rochester, Minnesota, where he prepares traditional Italian cuisine as a chef for specialty restaurants. Together, they present Italian cooking classes and events as well as host private dinners.