Sarah Grace

Dr. Sarah Grace is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Arizona, where she combines over two decades of teaching and research experience to foster an inclusive and engaging learning environment. She specializes in educational research, emotional labor in higher education, and participatory action research, with a particular focus on supporting underrepresented student populations.

Dr. Grace's research interests lie at the intersection of psychology and social justice. Her current projects include exploring emotional labor and teaching, the role of generative AI in education, and the integration of equity-focused pedagogical strategies. She has published on topics ranging from youth participatory action research to the emotional labor of female faculty in higher education, contributing to edited volumes and peer-reviewed journals such as The Urban Review and American Journal of Community Psychology.

Dr. Grace is also deeply involved in educational leadership and faculty development. She has served as a Faculty Learning Community Facilitator and led initiatives on creating inclusive course content and enhancing asynchronous online engagement. Her innovative approaches earned her the 2024 Action Teaching Award from the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI). 

Research Interests

• Emotional labor and faculty experiences in higher education
• Educational equity and inclusion in teaching and learning
• Generative AI in education and its impact on skill development and learning experiences

Selected Publications

• Grace, S. (in preparation). Embracing generative AI in education: Impact on skill development, learning experience, and equity. In E. Jones, B. Crawford, & M. Clay (Eds.), Embracing Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom. Fort Hays State University.
• Grace, S. (in preparation). "This is damaging to me!": Female faculty voices, student behavior, and emotional labor in higher education. In A. Sloan & N. A. Kopit (Eds.), Women in Educational Leadership: Understanding Stress, Emotional Labor, and Resilience. Baylor University & ECPI University.
• Grace, S., & Langhout, R.D. (2014). Questioning our questions: Assessing question-asking practices to evaluate a yPAR program. The Urban Review.
• Kohfeldt, D., Chhun, L., Grace, S., & Langhout, R.D. (2011). Youth empowerment in context: Exploring tensions in school-based yPAR. American Journal of Community
  Psychology.

Courses Taught

• PSY 230: Psychological Measurement & Statistics (2024)
• PSY 364: Human Sexuality (Spring, Fall 2024)
• PSY 456: Psychology of Death and Loss (Fall 2024)
• PSY 458: Violence and Youth (Spring, Fall 2024)

*Year listed indicates when this individual last taught the specified course.

Updated: 12/06/24