Why I Choose to Work at Academic Innovation

The work that’s being done at U-M around online and hybrid programming is unique in that those initiating these programs are focused on reasons that matter: creating access and reaching a population of learners who otherwise would not be able to benefit from the outstanding educational opportunities offered by the University. The opportunity to return home to my alma mater to do such meaningful work is a great professional experience for me.

Current Roles/Previous Experience

As the director of online and hybrid programs, Sarah provides strategic and operational guidance and support to academic units as they design, develop, launch, and evaluate new innovative online and hybrid programs. Sarah leads the online and hybrid programs team in coordinating the planning, internal and external approval, development, implementation, support, and oversight of new online and hybrid programs. Her team also works to document and prototype the process of program development in an effort to increase institutional knowledge and capacity.

Prior to her work in CAI, Sarah was the director of online learning at Loyola University Chicago. In that role, she was responsible for overseeing the online academic programming offered throughout the university. Previously, she worked in Loyola Chicago’s faculty center, creating professional development opportunities for faculty learning to teach in online and hybrid environments. Sarah’s expertise includes increasing stakeholders’ self-efficacy and capability for offering online programming, and in expanding and enhancing support for online students. Her research is grounded in achievement motivation theory, and focuses on investigating what factors contribute to students’ decisions to pursue online learning experiences.

Ask Me to Learn About

• What motivates students to pursue achievement related tasks.
• Professional development opportunities for online instructors.
• Optimal design decisions for online or hybrid programs.
• Making delicious pies.
• Preparing to run long distance events.