Sarah Williams
Biography
Sarah Williams is an assistant professor in the Department of Hospitality and Sport Business Management in the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware. Dr. Williams currently teaches undergraduate courses in sport management. She earned her doctorate in educational leadership and organizational development from the University of Louisville in 2019, her master of science in kinesiology from James Madison University in 2012 and her bachelor of business administration in finance from James Madison University in 2009.
Dr. Williams’ research focuses on gender and diversity issues in sport, organizational behavior and team leadership, most specifically in the intercollegiate athletics setting. She has published work on mentoring differences by gender in kinesiology departments, how fan consumption is altered through sport scandal in Division I women’s college basketball and gender differences in perceptions of leadership in intercollegiate athletics administration. Dr. Williams has also frequently presented at the North American Society for Sport Management, the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport and the Sport Marketing Association annual conferences.
During her time at the University of Louisville, Dr. Williams was a graduate teaching assistant in sport administration and co-coordinated a dual-credit partnership enrollment program with a magnet high school in Louisville. Prior to her time at the University of Louisville, she coached NCAA Division I women’s basketball for four seasons (2012-2016). During her tenure, her teams compiled an overall record of 99-35 (.738), won three conference championships, made three NCAA tournament appearances and she coached two players who were selected in the WNBA draft. She currently officiates NCAA Division I women’s basketball.
Education
- Ph.D., educational leadership and organizational development, sport administration, University of Louisville, 2019
- M.S. kinesiology, sport leadership, James Madison University, 2012
- B.B.A, finance, James Madison University, 2009
Select Publications
- Hums, M. A., Bower, G. G., & Williams, S. B. (In press). “Career paths of men working in leadership positions within intercollegiate athletic administration.” Journal of Intercollegiate Sport.
- Williams, S. B., Taylor, E. A., Greenwell, T. C., & Burpo, B. (2021). “Differences in sport management doctoral students’ experiences with gender microaggressions and stereotype threat by gender.” Sport Management Education Journal.
- Darvin, L., Hancock, M. G., & Williams, S. B. (2021). “Do women encounter a sport leadership labyrinth? The effects of sport organization symbolic equity structures on the career pathways of women administrators.” SN Social Sciences.
- Williams, S. B., & Greenwell, T. C. (2019). “The impact of scandal on NCAA division I women’s basketball fan consumption and brand loyalty.” Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics.
- Ransdell, L.B., Nguyen, N., Hums, M.A., Clark, M., & Williams, S. B. (2018). “Voices from the field: Perspectives of US kinesiology chairs on opportunities, challenges, and the role of mentoring in the chair position.” Quest.