Sarah Fortner

Sarah Fortner is a Professor at Wittenberg University specializing in geoscience education and community engagement. She earned her MS and PhD in Earth Sciences from the School of Earth Sciences (SES) at The Ohio State University under the mentorship of Dr. Berry Lyons, with committee members including Dr. Anne Carey, Dr. Lonnie Thompson, Dr. Bryan Mark, and Kathy Welch.

Her research philosophy centers on the principle that "Geoscience only informs equitable and just outcomes if we connect and build from that connection." This drives her interdisciplinary work spanning Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, and Polar Science, with field experience in Antarctica's Dry Valleys through the McMurdo Long Term Ecological Research Program. She integrates community advocacy into her teaching methodology, emphasizing inclusive network-building among students and faculty.

Fortner's career reflects deep commitment to student-centered pedagogy, inspired by her own graduate mentors who incorporated personal interests into academic instruction. She actively develops advocacy networks to translate geoscience research into community outcomes, particularly focusing on equitable environmental solutions. Her professional ethos prioritizes expanding perspectives in geoscience to serve broader societal needs.