Rate My Professor Sara Harris

Prior to her extensive tenure at Iowa State, Sara Harris-Talley worked as Program Manager for Central Iowa at Kaplan Test Prep from April 2000 to April 2007, managing profit and loss, hiring and training part-time instructors, and marketing preparation classes for college, graduate, professional school, and licensing exams for medical and nursing students. From October 1992 to April 2000, she served as Unit Secretary for the Zoonotic Diseases research unit at USDA/ARS/NADC-Ames, providing administrative support to the research leader and unit scientists and staff. Her professional skills include project management, strategic planning, executive administrative support, human resources, bookkeeping, parliamentary procedures, and public speaking. She has received the 2013 and 2009 ECpE Mervin S. Coover Distinguished Service Awards, the 2008 P&S Outstanding New Professional Award, and the 2010 Professional and Scientific Outstanding New Professional Award ($1,500), recognizing her contributions to streamlining operations, promoting student professional development, and fostering a collegial atmosphere. She serves as a councilor on the Professional & Scientific Council for Academic Affairs - College of Engineering and its Awards Committee. She holds leadership roles in Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. as Treasurer for the State of Iowa (2022-present) and Nu Mu Zeta Alumni Chapter (2020-present), Secretary for Sigma Epsilon Zeta Alumni Chapter (2018-19), and was Board Member/Secretary (2014-15) for CUPA-HR Iowa Chapter (2014-2016).