Sara Lopez

Sara Lopez is a Teaching Professor in the Educational Foundation, Leadership and Policy Area. She serves as the Academic Program Director for the Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership (IAL) M.Ed. at the University of Washington, oversees the Leadership in Higher Education M.Ed. program and participates as a team member with the Center for Leadership in Athletics.  Bringing an extensive background in sports administration and education, she completed her Ph.D. at the University of Washington in 2012 with a research focus on the professional preparation and continuing education of intercollegiate athletics coaches.  Sara has been at the University of Washington since 2000, working initially with the DO-IT program (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking and Technology) as a Program Manager. Her role with DO-IT was the implementation of outreach programs supporting the inclusion of students with disabilities in their transitions from high school and success in higher education academics.

Her undergraduate degree from PLU is in Secondary Education with a major in physical education and minors in special education and health. Sara previously worked for USRowing as a Regional Coordinator and then as Director of Rowing Services. Following two years in Atlanta as the Assistant Competition Manager for rowing at the 1996 Olympic Games, Sara returned to Seattle and worked to expand teams and competition events as a Region Director with Washington Special Olympics. After rowing as a student-athlete at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), Sara entered coaching and continued for over 35 years with various junior, collegiate and masters programs. Currently, she coaches Conibear Rowing Club, a competitive masters women’s team in Seattle.