Sarah is an Associate Lecturer – Teaching at the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania and a Research Associate in the Faculty of Education. Her background is interdisciplinary, with interests in both ocean governance as well as the governance of and pathways into higher education.

Biography

Sarah has over 25 years of experience in policy research and teaching in Australia and the United States. At the University of Tasmania, Sarah is an Associate Lecturer – Teaching at the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania and a Research Associate in the Faculty of Education. Within IMAS, her work focuses on ocean governance and the human dimensions of ocean management. As a Research Associate in the Faculty of Education, Sarah’s recent research interests have been focused on higher education policy and equity, including success and retention of low SES students and students with disability in higher education, equipping low SES parents to support their children’s higher education aspirations and the governance and processes of the internationalisation of higher education. In addition, from 2014 to 2016 Sarah taught units focused on developing research and information skills for the Pre-Degree Program and Bachelor of General Studies in Centre for University Pathways and Partnerships.

Before moving to Australia, Sarah was a Regional Coordinator for the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Center. Focusing on the Pacific Coast and US Pacific Islands, she worked to strengthen the coordination of MPA planning, management, and evaluation on the US West Coast and in the US Flag Islands. Also during her time with the NOAA National MPA Center, she worked to develop a national MPA social science research strategy and complimentary regional research strategies. Preceding that, Sarah worked for Duke University at the NOAA Coastal Services Center as the Center’s program coordinator. Her responsibilities included strategic planning, annual planning and supporting budget initiatives. Prior to her time with NOAA, Sarah worked as a research assistant at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in Moss Landing, California

Sarah has a PhD in Education from the University of Tasmania, an MA degree in International Environmental Policy Studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and a BA degree in Spanish from Middlebury College.

Achievements

• 2016 Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) PhD research scholarship

Career summary

Qualifications

Languages (other than English)

Spanish

Memberships

Professional practice

• Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE)

Administrative expertise

Project management and coordination

Partnership building

Stakeholder engagement

Facilitation

Teaching

Teaching expertise

Sarah has extensive experience in both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and unit design and coordination. In general, her teaching focuses on the human dimensions of ocean management, marine protected areas and ocean governance. She is also a deputy coordinator for the IMAS Honours (K4Z) and Masters (S7Z) degrees.

Teaching responsibility

Unit Coordinator/Teach

JFA 316/533 Marine Protected Area Management

Teach into

KSA 101 Intro to Marine and Antarctic Studies A

KSA102 Introduction to Marine and Antarctic Studies B

KSA 302 International Marine Management

KSM 703 Global Ocean Governance

Past Teaching

JFA 103 Environmental Advocacy/Environmental Leadership

JFA 110 Intro to Marine Conservation

JFA204/510 Climate Change and Adaptation

JFA307/526 Ecosystem Assessment

JFA310 Fisheries Policy and Law

JFA 313 Marine Environment and Society

XAB 041 Research and Information Skills

UPP 045 Research and Information Skills