portrait of Sara Furr

Sara Furr

Dean of Students, School of Social Service Administration University of Chicago

Prior to her current position, Sara served as the director of the Center for Identity, Inclusion and Social Change (formerly known as the Center for Intercultural Programs) at DePaul University. In her current role, she is responsible for creating and facilitating diversity and social justice education initiatives for students, faculty, staff, and community partners. Before becoming the director, Sara served as the assistant director of Multicultural Student Success at DePaul. Prior to her work at DePaul University, Sara served as the director of Intercultural Development at Mount St. Mary’s University. Additional experiences include work at Fordham University in New York City and Loyola College in Maryland.

Over the past 10 years as a professional in Student Affairs, Sara has been actively engaged in all aspects of college life and has specifically lead and served in the functional areas of residential life and housing operations; multicultural affairs and intercultural development; and judicial programs. She has always remained passionate about social justice education and helping students become agents of change. Sara holds her PhD in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago. She received her bachelor’s degree in public policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and masters of education in higher education and student affairs from the University of South Carolina. Sara has presented on topics such as identity development, leadership development theory, and power, privilege, and oppression. Her dissertation studied wellness interventions for social justice fatigue among student affairs professionals.

Because of her commitment to the profession and forming meaningful relationships, Sara has served as a Member-at-Large for the Maryland College Personnel Association (MCPA), Education and Advocacy Coordinator for the Asian Pacific American Network (APAN) for the American College Personnel Association, Research and Scholarship Coordinator for APAN, and President of the Maryland College Personnel Association. Most recently, Sara served as Co-Chair for the Asian Pacific American Network for the American College Personnel Association.