Sarah Vandermark has spent 24 years in higher education and is currently the associate provost for academic success at Dixie State University. Sarah Vandermark is responsible for leading academic initiatives increasing student retention and success at DSU, providing leadership and collaboration across divisions, and building out degree pathways within and outside DSU. Sarah has a passion for understanding student success through data informed decision making and understanding student populations. Working with institutions to understand their current student populations through data and reviewing; cohorts in regards to credit completion, gpa as well as courses and building programs and initiatives to assist. At NJCU, as Assistant Provost for Student Success, Dr. Vandermark was able to increase graduation rate from 33% to 42% in 2 years, an increase of 9%. At NJIT, as Executive Director of Student Success, she helped raise graduation rates by 4% in one year.
Within these three institutions, Dr. Vandermark utilizes her expertise and has reorganized academic advisement models. Within the first 4 months of her tenure at DSU, she implemented a new advisement model through collaboration with the Provost, Dean’s and Advisors.