Sarah Hunter
Biography
Dr. Sarah Hunter (she/her) is a passionate optimist who believes mindfulness has the potential to maximize the best asset we have, time. Sarah completed her PhD in Educational Sustainability at Nipissing University. Previously, Sarah earned a Master’s in Education, a Bachelor of Education and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. As a mother, teacher and researcher she advocates for the importance of self-care and self-compassion, something she often accesses through the practice of mindfulness. As a yoga teacher, bringing mindfulness into the elementary and postsecondary classroom has been natural; supporting students social and emotional development while creating the conditions required for student success.
Sarah has worked at Georgian College since 2011 in the role of faculty learning strategist, part-time faculty, writing technologist and applied research lead. Sarah’s doctoral research examined postsecondary student success, deepening what is known about how student success is conceptualized and supported within the college classroom. Sarah has been at the helm of a grassroots mindfulness movement here at Georgian and now supports research and innovation projects in the non-profit sector at the global social enterprise, Mindfulness Without Borders. Prior to her work as an elementary teacher and in higher education, Sarah worked at the YMCA and in municipal recreation. She remains involved, currently serving on the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka, and on their Board Governance and Philanthropy committees. Sarah also teaches at Lakehead University in their BEd and MEd programs, mainly in critical literacy, health promotion, planning and assessment.
Research interests and areas of expertise
- Student development and student success
- Mindfulness and social-emotional learning
- Social innovation and teacher education