Sarah Martin
Sarah Martin is an accomplished educational psychologist and instructional design leader with more than 15 years of experience in higher education. As the Assistant Director of Digital Teaching and Learning at Loyola University Maryland, she collaborates with senior leadership and faculty to build inclusive, empowering learning environments. Throughout her nearly seven years at Loyola, Sarah has become known for her ability to transform big-picture educational visions into scalable, human-centered systems that elevate teaching, accessibility, and student engagement.
Her work is grounded in empathy, clarity, and compassion—values she models in her leadership and mentorship. With a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Capella University, Sarah brings both academic depth and practical insight to her mission of supporting faculty development and fostering innovation across learning communities. She is deeply committed to designing educational experiences that center belonging, inclusivity, and the holistic success of learners and educators alike.
Outside of her professional achievements, Sarah takes pride in her shared accomplishments with her son, who was recognized as Youth Athlete of the Year in 2025. Together, they raised over $21,000 for two nonprofit organizations—The Why Not You Foundation, which supports education initiatives, and The V Foundation, dedicated to advancing the fight against cancer. This experience reflects Sarah’s belief in service, compassion, and the power of community to create meaningful impact both inside and beyond the classroom.
• 2025 Workforce Readiness Virtual Conference
• EDUCAUSE Data Literacy Institute
• Towson University- B.S.
• Capella University- Ph.D.
• Online Learning Consortium
• Quality Matters
• EDUCAUSE
• Society for the Teaching of Psychology
• United States Distance Learning Association
• American Psychological Association
• Why Not You Foundation
• The V foundation
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my commitment to people and relationships, which stems from my approach to listen, connect, and collaborate. I have built trust with faculty, students, and leadership by understanding and valuing their perspectives, and in turn, helping them succeed. I also attribute my success to continuous learning and adaptability. I have evolved with higher education by adopting new instructional design models, technologies, and accreditation frameworks while staying grounded in evidence-based practices. Lastly, I align everything I do (or as much intentionality as possible) with a clear sense of why (e.g., advancing learning, inclusion, and excellence). That deeper purpose grounds my choices and fuels my perseverance, even in challenging systems.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is rooted in my Kindergarten experiences: "Show, and then tell."
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women entering the industry to influence education change and institutional excellence by leveraging their student-first experiences to inspire change and elevate academic growth at every level.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge and opportunity in my field right now is navigating the rapid changes brought on by AI and finding ways to thoughtfully integrate it into education to enhance, not replace, human connection and learning.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are serving diverse faculty and learners with empathy and intentional structure while helping transform higher (and distance) education into a more inclusive and empowering space.
Locations
Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, MD 21210