Northwest Arkansas Business Journal 2009 Fast 15: Sarah E. Lewis
by February 23, 2009 12:00 am 247 views
Sarah E. Lewis, 34
Ph.d. Candidate in Environmental Dynamics
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Claim to Fame: Elected to Fayetteville City Council while pursuing doctorate degree.
Next Step: “Becoming Dr. Lewis.”
Sarah Lewis has mastered the art of time management. As a Ph.D. candidate in environmental dynamics, much of her time is spent on the University of Arkansas campus, where she works as a graduate assistant for the Applied Sustainability Center.
When she’s not working in her assistantship or doing research for her dissertation, she’s reviewing city ordinances or attending meetings as a Fayetteville Ward 4 Alderman.
On the weekends, Lewis divides her time between environmental consulting as an ecosystems professional for the Springline Consulting Group and social activities.
Upon graduating from the University of Nebraska in 1997 with a degree in Biology and French Secondary Education, Lewis moved to Northwest Arkansas, a place she had spent many childhood summers with her family.
In 1999, Lewis earned a master’s degree in French literature from the University of Arkansas.
After teaching science for four years in Bentonville public schools, and being nominated teacher of the year in the process, Lewis decided to go back to school to combine her love for teaching with her interest in the environment.
“I’ve always had a passion for environmental systems and I also love to teach,” Lewis said.
She practices doing both in her consulting gig by showing developers and engineers the benefits of low impact development techniques and sustainable construction methods.
Last fall, Lewis decided to enter the political arena and ran for a seat on the Fayetteville City Council. As the chair of the Fayetteville Council of Neighborhoods, Lewis wanted to further her activism and involvement in city government.
She defeated two opponents and won 65 percent of the votes.
As an alderman, she hopes to put her environmental knowledge to use for the city.
Lewis said she’s also looking forward to Fayetteville’s participation in regional planning.
“The city needs to be thinking regionally,” she said. “I’m excited about that.”
She’s also excited about finishing her dissertation this summer and finding a job.
“I’d like to be a professor eventually,” she said.
(RELATED: Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s 15 Young Pros on the Fast Track)