Sarah York

Sarah collaborates with faculty, staff, and leadership in the School of Education to plan, conduct, and evaluate EDI-related programs, initiatives, and professional development opportunities. She serves as a thought partner to academic departments, non-academic units, and the Associate Dean for EDI. Sarah also works to maintain a resource library of new and relevant EDI-related research and best practices for faculty and staff.

Sarah worked with and for students, staff, and faculty across science and education disciplines at a Top-Tier R1 Minority-Serving Institution for eight years prior to joining the OEDI Team at UW-Madison in 2024. She has experience in evidence-based strategic planning and evaluation of EDI-related practices, policies, programs, initiatives, and other learning opportunities. Sarah’s approach to professional learning integrates the content and experiential knowledge of her participants and aims to demonstrate practical, meaningful ways to transform courses, practices, and other structures in higher education. She also has experience in critical mentorship practices. Sarah is passionate about institutional change to increase the retention and success of students, staff, and faculty, specifically those who are oppressed by one or multiple dimensions of their identity.

Sarah holds an AS in General Sciences, Pre-Nursing from the College of Southern Nevada, a BS in Cell & Molecular Biology with a minor in Chemistry, and a Graduate Certificate in Chief Diversity Officer in Higher Education studies from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV). She is currently a PhD candidate in Chemistry at UNLV, where her doctoral research focuses on understanding and deconstructing institutional barriers to racial equity in post-secondary chemistry education. Sarah’s graduate studies were wholly funded by competitive research fellowships, including the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. In her free time, Sarah enjoys practicing yoga and serving as a personal assistant to her geriatric Boston Terrier.