For the past twelve years, speaker and life coach Sara Nowlin has been on a mission to deliver a powerful message to students about leadership and self-acceptance.

During five years as an English and Social Studies teacher, Sara delivered presentations to middle school students that gave them life skills to lead successful and authentic lives. She has also served as Program Director for Girls’ Leadership Worldwide at the Eleanor Roosevelt Leadership Center, an international summer program that empowers adolescent girls to become the next generation of principled leaders.

Sara has been published in the best-selling book, Speaking Your Truth: Courageous Stories from Inspiring Women, Volume 2, and is a regular contributor to the Poughkeepsie Journal. As a consultant with leadership training company DKBWAVE, Sara has worked with National Urban Fellows, The Salvation Army, and the Mayor’s Office of NYC.

Sara obtained her B.A. in Sociology and History, specializing in race, gender and sexuality, from Lehigh University. She holds a Teaching Credential from St. Mary’s College and did graduate work in Counseling Psychology at John F. Kennedy University.

Currently living in Poughkeepsie, New York, in her free time, Sara loves to travel, dance and watch ESPN.

• I love pushing life to the edge – I have been skydiving, bungee jumping and rock climbing.


• I plan to live a bi-coastal life in the Bay Area of California and New York City, because I can’t possibly choose between them.


• I love to dance so much that you could find me dancing in restaurants or retail stores if the music moves me.


• NOT being very domestic can be a source of contention in my relationship.


• I love watching both NFL games and the Oprah Winfrey Network.


• In 2014, I plan to attend the World Cup in Brazil, which will be my 3rd World Cup I have attended.


• I created my own virtual assistant company after leaving AOL while I studied in a Master’s Program.


• I moved to New York City in 2006 with no job and little support purely because it was on my bucket list.


• I plan to travel to Sedona, AZ, Nepal, and the Andes in Peru to have a life-altering spiritual experience.


• My favorite non-profits are Challenge Day and Hetrick Martin Institute because they both provide a safe place for youth to be fully self-expressed.


• My favorite quote is by Marianne Williamson, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure...”