Sara Withrow

Education

• M.S. - Master of Science in Mass Communication, Middle Tennessee State University
• B.A. - Bachelor of Arts in Journalism: French, Angelo State University

Currently Teaching

• COMD 360: Public Relations

Courses Taught

Publications

(2011-2021). Lift magazine, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Journals and magazines, Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons: https://commons.erau.edu/lift-magazine. [Editor and writer]

(2011-2021). Annual Report on Philanthropy/Philanthropy Impact Report, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Journals and magazines, Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons: https://commons.erau.edu/philanthropy-report. [Editor and writer]

Withrow, S. (2008). Merry Christmas v. Happy Holidays: Newspaper Discourse and the Holiday Greeting Conflict, 1980-2007. [Master's thesis, Middle Tennessee State University]

Professional Experience

I have more than 20 years of professional communication and public relations experience working for nonprofits and in higher education. I've also worked as a journalist in roles ranging from managing editor to staff writer and copy chief for a variety of newspapers and magazines. I started teaching in 2018, when I partnered with Embry-Riddle's Department of Humanities and Communication at the Daytona Beach Campus to develop a combined undergraduate/graduate experimental course in grant writing. The service-learning course incorporated the best practices that I learned working as a grant writer for nearly a decade for a nonprofit in San Diego County, California, as well as research and curricula from teaching colleagues at peer institutions. I currently teach another service-learning course for Embry-Riddle, COMD 360, which pairs students with nonprofit organizations to create public relations materials that can be used to advance the organization's goals and objectives. This course aligns well with my passion for authentic and purposeful storytelling that makes a difference for people, organizations, and causes. I am an active member of the Florida Public Relations Association and serve on the local Volusia/Flagler Chapter Board as the vice president of student services. In this role, I encourage student involvement in our local chapter and support student programming, including the FPRA VISION Student Chapter at Bethune-Cookman University.  

Memberships and Credentials

Vice President of Student Services, Florida Public Relations Association, Volusia/Flagler Chapter (2021- present)

Member, Florida Public Relations Association (2019 - present)

Member, Public Relations Society of America (2015 - 2019)

Member, Women in Aviation International (2015 - present)

Member, Council for Advancement and Support of Education (2011 - present)