Sara Brownlee is the 2022 Jim Ed McGee Award winner as the most outstanding graduate student at Arkansas Tech University.
Brownlee has earned three credentials from ATU: a graduate certificate in advising, a Master of Science degree in college student personnel and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English education.
She began her career in secondary education as a speech and journalism teacher at Dover High School, as an English and language arts teacher at Atkins High School and as a certified substitute teacher in the Pottsville School District.
Upon returning to Arkansas Tech to pursue graduate study, Brownlee was a teaching graduate assistant and college success mentor in the ATU Department of College Student Personnel, which has evolved to become the ATU Department of Student Affairs Administration. She went on to serve as an adjunct instructor in the department.
Brownlee also performed an academic advising practicum through the Roy and Christine Sturgis Academic Advising Center at ATU. Through her research, Brownlee studied varied approaches to registration for incoming and current students.
Since November 2020, Brownlee has fulfilled the duties of teacher prep advisor through the federally-funded ATU Student Support Services program. She advises 90 education majors as they prepare for licensure and teaching careers.
“I am deeply honored to have received this recognition,” said Brownlee. “As a first-generation ATU alumnus, my time as a graduate student was a pivotal time in my life. It led to my ability to combine my love of teaching with my interest in higher education by serving future educators, for which I am truly grateful. I would like to thank the Student Support Services staff, as well as the College of Education faculty and staff, for taking me in and allowing me to flourish in this role.”
