Department
Communication Studies
Title
Associate Professor - Student
Contact
Dr. Sarah Wolter serves as an Associate Professor and Chair of Communication Studies as well as an Assistant Women’s Golf Coach at Gustavus Adolphus College.
Dr. Wolter teaches a diverse range of courses, most notably Introduction to Critical Media Studies (COM 115), Public Discourse (COM 120), and the Sport Management cross-listed Communication and Sport (COM 373). Driven by a commitment to critical pedagogy, she utilizes evidence-based, high-impact practices and systematic assessment to elevate student learning. Her dedication to the classroom has earned her several honors, including the Gustavus Innovative Teaching Award, the Gustavus Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence, and the Minnesota Campus Compact President’s Civic Engagement Steward Award.
Dr. Wolter’s scholarship spans two distinct areas of inquiry: the impact of sport media on culture and institutions and civic engagement and media literacy in communication pedagogy. Dr. Wolter’s scholarship is published in leading journals such as the International Journal of Sport Communication, Communication and Sport, the Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics, and the Journal of Community Engagement in Higher Education.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Wolter serves in a variety of institutional service roles. As an assistant coach for the Gustavus women’s golf team, she helps manage practices and team travel for regional and national tournaments, where she intentionally infuses liberal arts values to bridge the gap between student athletes’ academic and athletic pursuits. Beyond athletics, in addition to her role as Department Chair and Program Assessment Liaison for Communication Studies, she is a Title IX Adjudicator and has served as Co-Program Director of Sport Management. She also actively supports the campus community through new faculty mentoring and serving on various faculty and administrative search committees.
Outside of her professional roles, Dr. Wolter enjoys golfing, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.
Dr. Sarah Wolter CV
COM-373: Communication & Sport
COM-120: Public Discourse
COM-368: Internship
SPM-368: Career Exploration
COM-115: Intro to Critical Media Studies
University of Minnesota Twin Cities, PhD
Minnesota State University, Mankato, MA
Gustavus Adolphus College, BA