The Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is pleased to announce Sarah Mell has joined the Division in the new position of Educator and Trainer of Inclusive Excellence.

Sarah joined UVM’s Women and Gender Equity (WAGE) Center as the Education and Outreach Coordinator in 2017. Sarah immediately expanded the WAGE Center’s reach across campus, and their ability to create collaborative relationships and connect with students helped triple the number of students, staff, and faculty accessing the WAGE Center’s programs and services. Sarah brought gender equity educational trainings to the UVM Community and provided mandated sexual violence prevention education to NCAA Athletes and the Fraternity/Sorority community for nearly 4 years. Sarah was an integral part of the “Women’s Center” name change process, ensuring that the WAGE Center is more accessible to more students, staff, and faculty. Sarah also helped transition the philosophy, mission, and vision of the WAGE Center, moving us towards creating joyful spaces and focusing on healthy relationships, consent, connection, and gender equity.

Melissa Murray, Sarah’s supervisor at the WAGE Center states: “Sarah is a gift to the UVM community. The WAGE Center was so lucky to have them as part of our team for the last 4 years. Sarah’s expertise, accessibility, sense of humor, skill, and willingness to have hard conversations led to them being recognized with a UVM Our Common Ground Staff Award this year. We are so excited to see what Sarah will create next and look forward to continuing to collaborate with them in their new role.”

Amer Ahmed, Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion said, “I am so excited for Sarah to join our office and for them to expand the work of our division across the UVM community. Their expertise and skillset will allow us to synergize more effectively with students, faculty, and staff and assist us in strategically implementing our university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. We couldn’t be happier to have them in this role.”