Sarah Tracy

Sarah J. Tracy is a Professor and Director of the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University (ASU). She holds an academic rank of Professor and leads one of the largest communication schools globally. Tracy’s research focuses on organizational communication, qualitative methodologies, emotional labor, workplace bullying, and compassion in organizations. She has authored over 100 publications and two influential books, including Qualitative Research Methods: Collecting Evidence, Crafting Analysis, Communicating Impact.

Education: Tracy earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Communication from the University of Colorado Boulder and a B.A. from the University of Southern California. She is also an Instructor in ASU’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and a Senior Global Futures Scholar at the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory.

Research & Awards: Her work has garnered prestigious accolades, including the National Communication Association’s Distinguished Scholar Award (2020) and the Western States Communication Association’s Distinguished Teacher Award (2019). Her research bridges critical and positive organizational communication, examining burnout, leadership, and compassionate workplaces.

Teaching & Leadership: Tracy has advised over 50 graduate students and pioneered courses on qualitative methods and organizational flourishing. She co-founded The Transformation Project, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to address complex societal issues. Her pedagogical innovations include using Lego Serious Play for creativity and problem-solving.

Community Engagement: Tracy hosts the YouTube channel Get Your Qual On and maintains a blog, Possibility Detective, exploring everyday flourishing. She actively consults on organizational well-being and leadership, offering workshops and keynote speaking to corporations, nonprofits, and governments.