Grad Spotlight: Sarah Bluebonnet
Name: Sarah Bluebonnet
Age: 33
Course of Study (degree being earned): Ph.D. in Educational Leadership
Hometown: Austin, TX
I grew up in Austin, but I have called San Antonio home for the last eight years. I have an eight-year-old son who has patiently waited for me to finish school. I am grateful for the opportunity to have completed a dissertation and to have worked with my committee on a research topic related to the Urban School Leaders Collaborative. I look forward to continuing working on research and program evaluation, and spending more time with family.
UTSA was the best choice for me because of its location and the availability of high-quality, supportive professors. I chose UTSA for the Ph.D. program after experiencing the USLC during my master’s degree because I wanted to learn more about social justice in educational leadership.
What was your favorite class and/or who was your favorite professor? Why? My favorite class was ethics with Dr. Garza because we started class with reflection and had healthy debates on ethical dilemmas.
What would you say is the most important thing you’ve learned over the course of your studies? The most important thing I have learned over the course of my studies is that it will all work out in the end. Whenever I want to give up on something, I remember Dr. Garza’s words and try to maintain hope.
Describe any organizations or activities within COEHD that you’ve participated in. I learned about JCEL through the opportunity I had to pre-review JCEL article submissions.
Describe any professional experiences or internship opportunities you have had. I appreciated the experiences I had working as a TA for the USLC, where I learned how to conduct reflections and work with groups of students.
What is your fondest memory of your time at UTSA? My fondest memory at UTSA is presenting at the University Council for Educational Administration conference with the USLC in 2019.
How has COVID impacted you, either personally or professionally? COVID impacted my research study by reducing the number of participants who could meet with me to collect data.
What are your plans for the future and/or your career? I am open to working as a practitioner in a school district or in an academic setting at a university in the future.
What has brought you inspiration during this time? E.g., music, books, people, etc. I enjoy music very much, and attending live shows and listening to music has inspired me during this time. I wrote my dissertation while listening to an instrumental playlist.
Congratulations to all of our 2021 COEHD graduates! See more COEHD graduate spotlights here