Sarah Childs Associate Dean and Director, Center for Multicultural Affairs & Services, Saint Michael’s College
South Burlington, VT
Job Title & Employer: Associate Dean and Director, Center for Multicultural Affairs & Services, Saint Michael’s College
In a few sentences, tell us about yourself.
I was born and raised in Tucson, AZ, with my parents and older brother. I grew up with my mom’s side of the family who are Mexican and Chinese, so those cultural influences have been strong in my life, as well as life very close to the US/Mexican border. I grew up playing lots of sports and spending time in the outdoors with my family, so my love and appreciation for physical activity and nature has extended to my life in Vermont. I love learning and exploring—my curiosity is demonstrated in how I spend my leisure time, the formal education and degrees I have worked for and who and how I give of my time.
Please tell us about your Saint Michael’s experience.
I have been at St. Michael’s for a short time, since late July 2020 to be specific, and it has been positive. It is an adjustment being at a much smaller school than all of the other schools where I was a student and worked, but I am happy with the change. It is not easy to start a new position in the middle of a global pandemic, but colleagues and students have been warm, welcoming and patient as I learn and get my roots planted. So much of my interactions with colleagues across campus have been mostly virtual, so I have come to appreciate the unexpected visits, emails and hallway run-ins with folxs. Looking forward to the days when I can go around campus seeing spaces full of people.
What advice would you give to women students?
Know your worth and ask for what you deserve. Have high expectations of yourself and those around you. Remember that you always have options and you are not helpless—even if you feel like it. Expect to be treated with dignity and respect, ALWAYS, and know that anything less is not okay. Womxn need to show love to womxn. We did not get to where we are and where we are going all alone. Coach. Mentor. Sponsor. Guide. Advise. Encourage. Learn all the time and about lots of things so that you can know better and do better. Try different things to get out of your comfort zone to deepen your learning and broaden your perspective. Do your self-work so that you can be the best version of yourself while also fully living out your purpose. Identify what you need in order to take care of your mind, body and soul. It is easy to feel like an imposter in lots of different settings—BIPOC in predominantly white spaces, womxn in male dominated spaces or fields, etc., etc.—but keep at it until it feels more comfortable or at least you feel more confident that you belong there too. Be your authentic self.
I responded literally to this question but I also have a couple of more pointed bits of advice.
To womxn of color in particular, a lot of us come from collectivist communities in which there is a lot of emphasis placed on the family or collective unit rather than on individuality. Just know that it is okay to focus on yourself and it does not mean that you are selfish or taking away from your community or family. We cannot give as we want or be our best if we are running on fumes. We have got to be healthy for the long term.
For womxn in general, always negotiate. I am thinking specifically in terms of employment, but really this can apply to so much more. Trust me, I do it myself in my personal and professional life. Negotiate for higher salary. Negotiate for a start date. Negotiate for professional development funds. Negotiate. Negotiate. Negotiate. No one else will do it for you.
What are some strategies that can help women achieve a more prominent role in their organizations?
To begin to respond to this question, note my previous response about the importance of negotiation. Also, I consider the various roles I have held at higher education institutions around the country and some of the different ways I have been involved in the local communities where I have lived. Relationships are critical to success in any position and in any community. This is not to suggest that all my relationships with all supervisors and all colleagues everywhere have been the greatest or closest but I always strive to have positive working relationships whenever possible. I do my best to be a supportive student affairs professional to students and a supportive colleague. I try to be reliable. I try to do really good work, even when it is challenging and even when the necessary work goes against the grain or status quo. I try to participate so that I can get to know people and they can get to know me. I try to be communicative and impeccable with my words and actions. I am very values-driven in terms of how I show up and how I make decisions. This is important to me because I believe strongly that it is always the right time to do the right thing and from an equitable lens. All this is to say, I believe the ways in which I show up have helped me to develop strong relationships with students, strong collegial relationships, gain professional experiences and trust within these relationships. This way of being encourages collaboration and opportunities. I also try to stay active and relevant in my field so that I can strive for excellence in my body of work. I present at conferences. I take advantage of any and all conferences and different professional development opportunities. I read a lot. I participate. I volunteer. I mentor. I serve on a board. All of this helps. Finally, but not least, kindness and compassion go a long way.
What keeps you motivated and driven on a daily basis?
Professionally speaking, students. The main reason why I decided to become a student affairs professional is because I really enjoy working with students and young adults. Getting to know students from around the world, their life experiences and perspectives on different things is exciting. The story-telling that happens through those relationships is also powerful. The resilience and persistence I witness all the time is quite inspiring. Also, my community matters a lot to me. I desire to use my gifts and talents for good and to contribute from our little corner of Vermont. I care deeply about various social causes. I believe strongly in equity work and promoting a society that actively works against racism and other forms of oppression.
Outside of my professional world, I lead a full life. I love adventure, my family and friends, my dog Benito, and having fun. I always try to be engaged in my local community through service. I enjoy working with womxn in the community who are seeking out educational opportunities. Finally, I was a fish in another life, so you can catch me in any body of water in Vermont during our short summer.
What woman most inspires you and why?
My first and greatest inspiration has always been my mama, but for this question I am going to say my maternal grandma. My grandma, Teresa Au de Silva, died when I was 16 years old. In my life, she has been gone longer than she was alive but her legacy and impact is felt just as strongly today as the day she died. I always reflect on why I feel her impact so strongly still and it comes down to a handful of things. She loved her grandbabies deeply. She only went to school until 6th grade and she was one of the wisest, most talented and skilled humans I have ever known. She grew up financially poor yet managed to build a wonderful life with my grandfather with very little. She gave back so much to our community in Tucson and family back in Calvillo, Aguascalientes, México. She used her language skills in Spanish and English to help people and to bridge both cultures. I learned about kindness and compassion from her too. One time we went to a huge community event called Tucson Meet Yourself and we were eating ice cream on the lawn next to another family as we listened to a concert. At one point, I realized my grandma was behind me sharing her ice cream with the two young children from the family beside us. She was not viewing our neighbors as strangers but rather as family. I learned as a young girl that I do not need to know people intimately to show love and kindness. As a woman, I learned about being self-sufficient and defining our lives for ourselves. She did a lot of things that were not as typical for women of her generation or in her family. She drove. She went swimming. She married a Chinese-American man as a Mexican woman from México. She worked inside and outside of the home.
Anything else you would like to add?
Yes – It is okay for womxn to be physically strong. I love powerlifting and I encourage you to try it. Do not worry about what others think. Take up space in the gym!
**Originally profiled in 2021**