Sarah Odell is a feminist scholar, researcher, and educator who has extensive experience working with influential women and creating gender-focused programming. Sarah currently serves as the founding director of the Center for Gender and Ethical Leadership in Society at the Hewitt School, a K-12 girls’ school in New York City. Sarah’s dissertation on how gender identity of K-12 educational leaders impacts their career trajectories, was advised by feminist psychologist Carol Gilligan. Sarah teaches leadership courses, focused on gender identity and listening at the Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University and at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. A 2022 David L. Clark Scholar, Sarah has presented at the American Educational Research Association conference and the University Council on Educational Administration conference. Sarah was the 2023 recipient of an outstanding dissertation award in administration, organization, and leadership at AERA. She has been published in the Journal of School Leadership, Frontiers in Educational Leadership, Teachers College Record and in books about the intersections of gender and school leadership.
She previously taught high school English, coached varsity squash, and served as a dorm parent. Sarah has a B.A. in Creative Writing from Wellesley College, a MSeD in school leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, and just completed her PhD. in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is currently working with John Diamond at the Annenberg Center at Brown University for the CALL-ECL project and on a study to understand the tenure of women heads in independent schools sponsored by the National Association of Independent Schools.