Sarah E. Whitley

As Longwood University’s first director of first-year programs, Sarah developed and implemented a new peer mentor program that created a holistic and seamless transition for new and transfer students through optional and mandatory components.

Sarah has extensive experience working with orientation and registration programs, welcome week events, common reading initiatives, learning communities, freshman seminars, family programs, student success and retention initiatives, and enrollment management. She developed an online-based summer correspondence and extended orientation program for peer mentors and new students. Additionally, Sarah instructed Longwood Seminar, served as an academic advisor, and was a member of the university crisis-response CARE Team. She has presented regionally and nationally on peer mentoring and first-year student experience programs, student success initiatives, and building cross-divisional relationships on campus.

Currently, Sarah works with the Center for the Study of Higher Education and the Center for the Advanced Study of Teaching & Learning in Higher Education. Her research interests include access and enrollment management, new student transition, developing effective pedagogy based upon learning styles, learning communities and the role of women in the university.