Sara Golightly

Pronouns: She/Her

Staff Position: Gift & Constituent Records Specialist, University Advancement 

Hometown: Petaluma, CA

My fondest memories of working with students come from the scholarship award ceremonies during my time as the Scholarship Coordinator. It was incredibly rewarding to witness the connections made among the students and their families with the donors, and the stories shared were inspiring. That event was always a full-circle moment and really helped keep me motivated during challenging times.

Working full time remotely while also helping my children with their distance learning during COVID is hands down the most challenging thing I have ever experienced professionally. As the only person responsible for coordinating the scholarship programs and processes on campus, the job still had to be done. This meant an unconventional work schedule while I also provided support for my family and their school needs. In many ways, our family was fortunate to have the resources to stay home and still work and learn, but I am grateful it's behind us.

I first came to SSU as a transfer student from SRJC. I grew up locally and didn't have a strong career direction, so staying close seemed like the best option at the time. I was also drawn to the smaller class sizes and the business program. That turned out to be the right move, and I was encouraged to look for a job on campus after graduating. I first landed in the Financial Aid Office as an admin. I love the feeling of community on campus, and all the events and activities offered make it a fun place to work.

It would be impossible to pick just one person who has made a difference in my journey. After 22 years I have made many friends and connections with incredible people in virtually every school and department on campus. Each one has impacted my career and influenced my motivation to stay.

One of the things I reflect back on is how much the campus has grown and changed, both in appearance and culturally. While it's fun to reminisce about what was, I'm happy with the direction the campus is going and excited about what the future brings. This is one of the best things about working in University Advancement — getting to see the excitement about SSU from donors, parents, alumni, and the local community. It is infectious and makes for a really exciting and rewarding place to work.