Sarah McDermott: A Journey of Passion and Purpose
For Sarah McDermott, Lehigh University isn't just a campus—it’s been her home for the last five years. As an aspiring educator and a "proud big sister," she has dedicated her academic career to nurturing both the minds and hearts of young learners.
While most students in the 4+1 Accelerated Master’s program begin their transition in their sophomore year, McDermott took a unique path, jumping in during her junior year. Now in her first year as a graduate student, she is fast-tracking her way to the classroom, proving that the program’s flexibility is one of its greatest strengths.
"Choosing Lehigh meant choosing excellence; it meant choosing impact. I think our world is in desperate need of excellent educators, and I knew Lehigh had the reputation for producing them."
Community Connection
McDermott's heart belongs to the Southside community. Her evolution from a freshman volunteer to a graduate leader is a testament to her commitment to service: tarted as a tutor for America Reads/America Counts during her freshman year. Next, she served as a site leader at local homework clubs through her senior year. Now, as the graduate intern for the Community Service Office, she oversees the America Reads/America Counts and Lunch Bunch mentorship programs, supporting students at Fountain Hill Elementary, Donegan Elementary, and Broughal Middle School.
Through these partnerships, McDermott helps deliver holistic support services to local families, bridging the gap between theory and real-world community building.
Academic Excellence & Research
McDermott's undergraduate career was marked by a series of Lehigh’s most prestigious honors:
- Three-time recipient of the Williams Prize for writing.
- George B. Lemmon Prize winner (Eckardt Scholars) for her outstanding Senior Capstone Project.
- Psychology Department Awards: Recognized for both Outstanding Academic Achievement and Research Excellence.
- Research Fellow: Recipient of Lehigh’s Grants for Experiential Learning in Health and the College of Arts and Sciences Research Grant.
Life in the Lehigh Valley
When she isn't student-teaching or leading community programs, Sarah is out enjoying the vibrant culture of the Lehigh Valley with her sisters and friends. Her local favorites include catching movies at ArtsQuest or events at the SteelStacks, comedy shows at the State Theater or Wind Creek., and weekend trips to the Easton Public Market and the Promenade Shops.
The Lehigh Advantage
She chose this program because it offered more than just a degree; it offered a "well-rounded skill set." By the time she steps into her own classroom as a first-year teacher, she will be armed with evidence-based instructional design, inclusive classroom management practices, analytical skills for data-driven decision-making, and community leadership experience that understands the "whole child."
For McDermott, the 4+1 program allowed her to stay connected to the Southside families who fundamentally changed her life, while preparing her to change the lives of her future students.
