I am a native Arizonan and graduated in 2010 with a B.A. in Psychology from The Honors College at the University of Arizona. I received my doctorate in Social Psychology at Arizona State University in May 2017. I am currently an Associate Professor of Psychology at Weber State University.
Broadly, my program of research explores the impact of underrepresented identities (e.g., social class, ethnicity, gender) on experiences and performance in academic contexts. My research examines the effect of social class biculturalism on well-being and academic performance for first-generation college students. Additionally, I study the interplay of socioeconomic status and future self-continuity on academic performance and retention for low SES and first-generation college students. I am also interested in theoretically-based interventions to improve the educational experience for students from diverse backgrounds (e.g., first-generation college students, ethnic minorities, women in STEM).
I am passionate about teaching and mentoring, and have served as the instructor of record for courses including Introduction to Psychology, Research Methods, Statistics, Social Psychology, Psychology of Diversity, Tests & Measurement, and Developmental Psychology. My courses are designed and taught with diverse students in mind. I am committed to building inclusive classroom and laboratory environments with an emphasis on growth and skills that can be used in future courses and careers.
Before graduate school, I worked as a pastry chef for five years at Raging Sage Coffee Roasters in Tucson, AZ. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, gardening, reading, traveling, skiing, hiking, backpacking, and rock climbing. I also foster kittens and dogs for the Humane Society of Northern Utah (some have been adopted by my students!). You can view a copy of my CV here. Please feel free to contact me at sarahherrmann at weber dot edu.
Photo Credit: Ryan Belnap