Sarah trained as a secondary school science teacher moving to a career in Higher Education 30 years ago where she worked as a lecturer in environmental science and geography. She changed role, moving into educational development, following involvement in national and institutional educational initiatives.
For the last 18 years she has worked as a staff and educational developer at Ulster University and now leads the institutional Advance HE accredited ENHANCE scheme and teaches on their taught routes to Fellowship for staff and doctoral researchers. She was awarded Principal Fellowship in 2013, the first woman in NI to achieve this, and has been an Advance HE accreditor and associate since 2012 providing support and leadership for many UK and international HEIs.
Sarah has recently led research initiatives exploring the use of dialogue in professional recognition and staff perceptions of engaging with Fellowship. She was promoted to a Readership in Higher Education Practice in 2020.
Sarah is committed to creating inclusive professional learning and recognition opportunities that value and support a diversity of educators. By joining the Fellowship and Accreditation Expert Advisory Group she would like to play a part in shaping the direction of this activity.