Sarah Stiles
Dr. Sarah C. Stiles was a member of the Georgetown University faculty from 2007 to 2024, retiring as a Teaching Professor Emeritus in the Department of Sociology.
Prior to joining Georgetown, she held teaching positions at Boston University, Northeastern University, George Washington University, and American University. She continues to contribute to education through teaching, public speaking, and consulting.
A dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. Stiles focused on student well-being, integrating mental health awareness into her courses. She co-created Flourishing in College and Community, a course designed to help first-year students develop strategies for maintaining mental and emotional health. For graduating seniors, she developed Flourishing in the Future, supporting students as they transition into post-college life. As a certified Forest Therapy Guide, she further explored the connection between nature and mental health, incorporating guided experiences to promote resilience and self-care. Her commitment to these themes was highlighted in her 2019 TEDx Georgetown talk, Flourishing in the Future.
Dr. Stiles is widely recognized for her dynamic teaching and deep engagement with students. She was a frequent speaker at Georgetown events, including the Last Chance Lecture, Homecoming, faculty showcases, and senior parents’ weekends. Known for her engaging and transformative teaching style, she consistently received outstanding course evaluations, and her classes were in high demand.
Her contributions to teaching were recognized with multiple honors, including two Edward B. Bunn, S.J. Awards for Faculty Excellence, the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, and Outstanding Faculty awards from both the Student of Color Alliance (twice) and Student Affairs. She was also awarded the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Faculty Award from the McDonough School of Business. Beyond the classroom, she embraced campus life in unexpected ways, placing first and second in consecutive years in Dancing with the Hoyas, a faculty-student ballroom dance competition.
Now in her emeritus role, Dr. Stiles remains actively engaged in education. She has recently taught Introduction to Sociology and Law and Society online and continues to explore experiential learning, incorporating Forest Therapy into her work. She pursues her passion for music by playing the banjo and serves as a board member for a local nonprofit.