Sarah has a Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations from the University of Oxford, where she was a member of St. Antony’s College. Her dissertation, entitled "IO Power from Within? UNHCR's Surrogate Statehood in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda," focused on the politics of forced migration, and in particular, the role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in protracted refugee situations in East Africa. It examined the conditions under which UNHCR took on "surrogate state" roles, and how that affected its ability to influence state responses to refugees. She conducted fieldwork interviews in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and completed her doctoral coursework at Georgetown University, where she was later a Visiting Researcher. This has helped her learn important differences between UK/European and US approaches to the study of International Relations. During her doctoral studies, she was the recipient of the prestigious PEO Women's Scholarship, and was also awarded a Carr and Stahl Travel grant from St. Antony's College, and the Peter Fitzpatrick Scholarship at St. Antony's College.
Sarah also has a Master of Science in Forced Migration from Oxford, where her thesis received distinction and was later published through Oxford's Refugee Studies Centre Working Paper Series. Her thesis considered the legality of long-term encampment through a human rights lens, and drew upon the interdisciplinary coursework of the program. During her MSc, she was honored to be the recipient of the Weidenfeld Scholarship, a full scholarship and stipend for international leadership/development potential.
Sarah also holds a Master of Arts in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago, where she also earned a merit scholarship. This degree proved foundational to her theoretical and methodological understanding of social science research. She took a range of courses relating to human rights and migration, and her thesis focused on asylum seekers at sea and interdiction practices. She also carried out other research on anti-human smuggling efforts and human rights.
Finally, Sarah's Bachelor of Arts undergraduate degree is from Valparaiso University, and is in History, Spanish and International Service. She also holds a minor in humanities, earned in conjunction with the interdisciplinary honor's college (Christ College), where she was a member for four years. She was awarded a number of scholarships, including a Presidential Scholarship, an athletic scholarship for swimming, and a number of private grants and scholarship awards. She was a Christ College Scholar and graduated magna cum laude. She was also made a member of various honor societies, including Sigman Delta Pi (National Spanish Honor Society), Phi Alpha Theta (National History Honor Society), and Pi Gamma Mu (Social Sciences Honor Society). Her honor's thesis considered liberation theology and environmental ethics in developing nations. She also wrote an international service thesis on Australian detention practices, and a history senior thesis on Irish immigration to Indiana in the nineteenth century.
Sarah also has a Master of Science in Forced Migration from Oxford, where her thesis received distinction and was later published through Oxford's Refugee Studies Centre Working Paper Series. Her thesis considered the legality of long-term encampment through a human rights lens, and drew upon the interdisciplinary coursework of the program. During her MSc, she was honored to be the recipient of the Weidenfeld Scholarship, a full scholarship and stipend for international leadership/development potential.
Sarah also holds a Master of Arts in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago, where she also earned a merit scholarship. This degree proved foundational to her theoretical and methodological understanding of social science research. She took a range of courses relating to human rights and migration, and her thesis focused on asylum seekers at sea and interdiction practices. She also carried out other research on anti-human smuggling efforts and human rights.
Finally, Sarah's Bachelor of Arts undergraduate degree is from Valparaiso University, and is in History, Spanish and International Service. She also holds a minor in humanities, earned in conjunction with the interdisciplinary honor's college (Christ College), where she was a member for four years. She was awarded a number of scholarships, including a Presidential Scholarship, an athletic scholarship for swimming, and a number of private grants and scholarship awards. She was a Christ College Scholar and graduated magna cum laude. She was also made a member of various honor societies, including Sigman Delta Pi (National Spanish Honor Society), Phi Alpha Theta (National History Honor Society), and Pi Gamma Mu (Social Sciences Honor Society). Her honor's thesis considered liberation theology and environmental ethics in developing nations. She also wrote an international service thesis on Australian detention practices, and a history senior thesis on Irish immigration to Indiana in the nineteenth century.