Sarah M. Zehr Gantz is Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs for the University of Illinois system. In this role, she works closely with the Executive Vice President/Vice President for Academic Affairs to lead and manage academic programs and activities for the three campuses in the University of Illinois system. Previously, Sarah held various roles on the Urbana campus. She managed MBA admissions in the College of Business and led Engineering Career Services for the College of Engineering. At the campus level, she has experience in public engagement, international relations, and corporate relations. She started her career in the consulting industry and also worked in nonprofit before joining the University.
Sarah earned a BS in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a PhD in Higher Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research interests include experiential learning programs such as internships, cooperative education, and apprenticeships, as well as higher education policy and international issues. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys spending time with family, reading, and traveling, as well as community service. She works closely with the United Way of Champaign County in a variety of roles.