Sarah M Surak (PhD) is a political scientist living in Hamburg, Germany. From 2012-2025, she was an assistant and then associate professor at Salisbury University (Maryland, USA) in the Departments of Political Science and Environmental Studies, teaching classes in political theory, environmental policy, sustainability, public administration, and American politics. From 2015-2022, she co-directed Salisbury University’s Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (PACE), where she designed and delivered faculty development seminars to support civic engagement in classrooms across campus, led interdisciplinary courses on current topics in public affairs, and oversaw student civic engagement programming. As an emerita professor, Surak continues to facilitate New Student Reflection, a program that welcomes incoming students into the classroom using the conversation model of civic reflection. As a Senior Fellow at PACE, Surak continues to support faculty development and the national Center for Civic Reflection.
Since 2024, Surak has served as co-editor of the journal New Political Science, a journal owned by the Caucus for a Critical Political Science and the American Political Science Association (APSA) section Critical Political Science.
Surak currently facilitates workshops and seminars and gives lectures on civic education, social movements, American politics, and environmental sustainability (in particular, waste management) across Germany.
Education
Ph.D. Planning, Governance, and Globalization (Virginia Tech)
MPA Master of Public Administration (The University of Tennessee)
BA Political Science (The University of Tennessee)
Professional Experience
2023 – present: Academic and consultant specializing in American politics, civic engagement, and civic education     Â
2023 – present: Consultant, United Nations Office of International Migration                     Â
2017 – 2025: Associate Professor, Salisbury University
2015 – 2020: Co-Director, Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement
Wilson H. Elkins Professorship, University System of Maryland (2018)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
2012 – 2017: Assistant Professor, Salisbury University
2009 – 2012: Sustainability Consultant, Virginia Tech
2008 – 2012: Sustainability Consultant, The University of Tennessee
2005 – 2008: Sustainability and Public Relations Manager, The University of Tennessee
2003 – 2005: Recycling Coordinator, The University of Tennessee