PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Equity & Engagement Director, Whole Earth Nature School, January 2022 – January 2024

• Led organizational projects to enhance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within policies, planning, and programming, including a robust organizational development and restructuring initiative
• Managed and supported other administrative staff
• Directed and managed employee services and hiring functions, including creating an equitable hiring process, administering employee benefits, passing supportive policies to improve staff wellbeing, and facilitating engagement events
• Led staff training and coaching, including topics on trauma-informed care practices, Indigenous learning frameworks, student engagement and accommodations, and lesson plan development
• Spearheaded whole organization evaluations to improve curriculum, programming, employee engagement, policies, and organizational culture
• Developed and piloted a new process to resolve staff conflicts and concerns using restorative justice practices
• Supported new Outdoor School director in contract writing, curriculum development, school recruitment, communications, partner engagement, and student accommodations

Outdoor School Director, Whole Earth Nature School, December 2018 – December 2021

• Conceptualized and led state-funded overnight, day, and virtual Outdoor School programs for 5th and 6th graders to engage in land-based and social-emotional activities that prioritized equity and student needs
• Directed all aspects of the Outdoor School program including school recruitment, project management, communications, policies, contracts, budget, curriculum, hiring, training, staff management, on-site management of 100+ students, accommodation plans, volunteer program, partnerships, and evaluation
• Grew program from 600 students to 2000+ students in two years
• Developed culturally responsive, land-based natural science curriculum for Field Studies
• Established and nurtured relationships with school and district personnel, site managers, other Outdoor School providers, and state Outdoor School staff
• Created and coordinated the Whole Earth Justice Talks program for staff, including topics such as intersectional justice, racism in the environmental movement, fatphobia and body liberation, and microaggressions and bias
• Led organizational projects to enhance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, including restorative practices, staff coaching, policies, staff training, and more
• Facilitated workshops on Indigenous education, cultural appropriation

Environmental Educator, Straub Outdoors, September 2018 – December 2018

• Facilitated learning for K-5 students during outdoor school and field trip programs
• Guided students to connect with nature through experiential, culturally responsive programs
• Assisted director with outreach to expand the program service area

Discovery Trail Project Coordinator, H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, June 2017 – December 2018

• Modified curriculum based on student and teacher feedback
• Managed research, logistics, and partnerships for the project
• Developed internal project manual and teacher field trip manual
• Coordinated field trips at the Andrews Forest

Graduate Assistant, Oregon State University, September 2016 – June 2018

• Co-facilitated strategic planning for the College of Forestry Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion plan by hosting focus groups and open forums, leading workgroup efforts, and writing the plan
• Assisted instructors in teaching activities for Forest Policy, Parks & Protected Management, and Consensus in Natural Resources
• Lectured about environmental values, Indigenous land dispossession and fortress conservation, best practices for web development, and climate change communication
• Led class activities on trust, collaborative decision-making, conflict resolution, and facilitation techniques
• Created the natural resources student handbook
• Interviewed Oregon Eclipse Festival attendees about Guerilla Science programming for funded research
• Received the Forest Ecosystems & Society Citizenship Award, which was created for Sarah’s contributions as the first honoree

Sustainability Manager, University of Houston, March 2014 to May 2016

• Led campus sustainability endeavors, including institutional reporting, strategic communications, policy development, campus and community collaboration, educational events, organic gardening, fundraising, and project execution
• Led campus sustainability reporting and received the first AASHE STARS gold rating for a Texas institution of higher education
• Served as the UH sustainability spokesperson during media interviews, class lectures, and campus, local, and national speaking engagements
• Directed campus sustainability governing bodies, rewrote the Campus Sustainability Policy, and reorganized the Sustainability Task Force into the Campus Sustainability Committee
• Served as hiring and office manager; developed the Office of Sustainability structure, roles, policies, and procedures; managed the student sustainability team members who worked on projects such as waste minimization, communications, gardening, biking, and outreach
• Managed project to establish the first pocket prairie at UH, including conceptualization, partnerships, fundraising, volunteers, university approval
• Created the Campus Tree Committee, developed the university’s tree care plan, and received the first Tree Campus USA designation for UH
• Launched the uh.edu/sustainability website, Sustainability Blog, Sustainable Coog newsletter, and Sustainable Coog feature series
• Developed UH Earth Week and Sustainability Meetup programs and added new features to Sustainability Fest like zones, art and poetry contests, live performances; Launched the first zero-waste events at UH; Developed the #BYOBottle campaign
• Developed and disseminated a campus-wide bike survey and report; Created the UH Bike Committee; Launched the first Bike to UH Day
• Received certificate of recognition and honorable mentions at the City of Houston Mayor Proud Partner Awards; received the Harmony Schools Public Servant Appreciation Award
• Included in the 2014, 2015, and 2016 Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges, the 2016 Sierra Cool Schools Ranking, and recognized as an InnerView green-level school

Communications Specialist, UTHealth School of Biomedical Informatics, September 2013 to March 2014

• Assembled, catalogued, and archived information derived from online research, interviews, and printed material
• Designed, developed, and influenced the development of high-quality, creative materials benefiting the school
• Wrote news and feature articles for publication, inclusive of print and online media, as well as newsletters, feature stories, blogs, media kit preparation
• Managed the school’s website content and social media sites
• Generated ideas for communication strategies and develop related plans, tactics, and materials to raise awareness of the school among key constituent groups
• Collaborated with team members to address communications and design needs and supervised outsourced communications projects
• Provided photography and coordination support for events
• Planned school events and assisted with student recruitment

Communications Assistant, UTHealth School of Biomedical Informatics, September 2013 to March 2014

• Coordinated the SBMI billboard campaign
• Created the advisory council and alumni newsletters
• Refocused the internal school newsletter
• Created the ‘Defining Biomedical Informatics‘ series
• Increased the number of news releases for the school by 78% from the previous year
• Conceptualized and spearheaded the in-house student recruitment event: SBMI Connect 2013
• Created communications policies, procedures, surveys, and orientations
• Coordinated the student engagement events, faculty retirement party, and poster sessions
• Provided design, photo editing, and photography support for meetings, events, and marketing campaigns
• Developed marketing communication campaigns for the school in Constant Contact and through external email blasts

Trip Leader and Outreach Coordinator, UH Outdoor Adventure, August 2011 – June 2012

• Planned and led outdoor trips; taught Leave No Trace principles
• Taught classes about climbing techniques and equipment
• Belayed patrons, managed safety at the climbing wall
• Created promotional material; maintained social media sites
• Coordinated climbing competitions

Green UH Communications Coordinator, UH University Services, January 2011 – August 2011

• Implemented sustainability initiatives with departments and the Sustainability Task Force
• Coordinated and promoted events such as RecycleMania, Earth Day, and Green UH Day
• Created the Green UH media kit and weekly sustainability blog
• Reformatted and edited the website and monthly newsletter

Event and Communications Coordinator, Green Lily Events, November 2009 – July 2010

• Planned and coordinated large-scale, eco-conscious weddings
• Provided sustainability consultations for large local events, like marathons
• Promoted and coordinated sustainability-themed events such as cocktail parties, art shows, and business open houses
• Wrote and published social media posts, blogs, and press releases

Other Positions:

• University of Houston Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, July 2010 to December 2010: Administrative Assistant and Special Event Worker; and August 2008 to November 2009: Child Care Attendant and Special Event Worker
• Office Assistant, Pro Shop Attendant, and Cook, Alvin Golf & Country Club, February 2004 to August 2006

Master of Arts, Environmental Arts and Humanities, Oregon State University (September 2016-June 2018)

• GPA 4.0
• Environmental Action Track
• Fully funded through Forest Ecosystems and Society as a Graduate Teaching & Research Assistant

Bachelor of Arts, Communications, Summa Cum Laude, University of Houston (August 2008-May 2012)

• GPA: 4.0
• Public Relations concentration; World Cultures & Literatures minor (German language focus)
• Dean’s List: Bauer College of Business (2008 – 2009); College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (2009 – 2012)
• Academic Excellence Scholarship

Oregon State University (September 2016 – June 2018)

• Member, Planning Committee, International Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal on Human Rights, Fracking & Climate Change (September 2017-June 2018)
• Reviewer, Ecological Reflections Writing Residency Committee (December 2017 – January 2018)
• Chair, OSU CoF Promotion & Tenure Student Review Committee (October 2017)
• Co-chair, OSU CoF Diversity Equity & Inclusion Workgroup (2016 – 2017)

University of Houston (August 2008 – May 2012); (March 2014 – May 2016)

• Coordinating Chair, Bike Working Group (2015-2016)
• Coordinating Chair, Sustainability Task Force (2014-2016)
• Coordinating Chair, Tree Care Advisory Council (2014-2016)
• Vice President and Co-Founder, Rock Climbing Sport Club (September 2011 – May 2012)
• Communications Director, UH German Club (2010 – May 2012)
• Student Representative, Sustainability Task Force (July 2011 – May 2012)
• Coordinating Chair, UH Green Student Leadership Council (January 2011 – May 2011)
• Member, National Society of Collegiate Scholars (2008 – May 2012)
• Member, Public Relations Student Society of America (2010 – May 2012)

Volunteer Experience (2007 – present)

• Sunrise Movement Eugene (2021-2023)
• Community art project lead, Peavy Arboretum Get Outdoors Day (January 2017 – June 2017)
• Trails & Education Crew Volunteer, The Houston Arboretum and Nature Center (January 2013 – May 2016)
• Student Volunteer, UH Campus Community Garden (June 2011 – May 2012)
• Cheerleading Coach at YMCA Alvin (2007)

Professional Associations

• Member, Anti-oppression resource group & Work that Reconnects network (2024-present)
• Communications committee, Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (2015 – 2016)
• Summit planning committee, Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (2014 – 2015)
• Member, Houston Area Urban Forestry Council (2015 – 2016)

• OSU Forest Ecosystems & Society Citizenship Award (first honoree) (2018)
• Spring Creek Project Graduate Writing Residency (2018)
• OSU College of Forestry fully funded graduate research appointment (2016-2018)
• Walter Gruetter Memorial Fellowship (2017-2018)
• UH Sustainability awards during my tenure:
  • City of Houston Mayor Proud Partner Award
  • Harmony Schools Public Servant Appreciation Award
  • Sierra Magazine Cool School
  • Tree Campus U.S.A. designation
  • AASHE STARS gold rating
  • Princeton Review Green School

• Texas Master Naturalist (2013-2016)
• Yardwise Master Composter (2015 – present)
• Recognized at the University of Houston Commencement as one of the fourteen 4.0 GPA graduates (May 2012)
• Valenti School of Communication Outstanding Graduating Undergraduate (May 2012)
• Academic Excellence Scholarship (2008 – 2012)
• CPR & First Aid Certification (2008-2013)
• CWA Climbing Wall Instructor (2011 – 2013)
• Wilderness First Aid Certification (2011 – 2013)
• Barnes and Noble Textbook Scholarship (2011 – 2012)
• The University of Houston Administration and Finance Student Spotlight (June 2011)
• Max Freund Award (2011)
• CRWC Employee of the Month (October 2010 and November 2011)
• German Book Award (2009 – 2010 and 2010 – 2011)

REFERENCES and PORTFOLIO