Sarah Anderson

Senior Community Engagement Manager

Background

Sarah joined the Department in 2017 to work as the University’s first Community Engagement Programme Manager. Sarah previously worked at the University in culture change, public engagement with research, communications and funding advisor roles. Sarah used to work in formal partnership with the other universities in Edinburgh via the Beltane Public Engagement Network.

In her current role, Sarah is a central point of contact and advice for engagement between the University of Edinburgh and communities in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Scottish Borders and Fife. Her role focusses on activities which create positive social impact and reduce inequalities for local communities. This includes the University's strategies relating to community engagement, the University's community grant scheme and facilitating the Edinburgh Community Engagement Forum. Her work is complementary to that of the University's Community Relations Manager (role based in Communications and Marketing).

Sarah is a member of the University's Community Team and sits on the University's Community Board. Her role sits within the wider Social Impact Unit in the Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability.

Sarah works 31 hrs/week.

Qualifications

"English stress preservation and Stratal Optimality Theory". PhD thesis by Sarah Collie, 2008, The University of Edinburgh. Supervised by Heinz Giegerich. Awarded with minor corrections. Supported by the Carnegie Trust for the Universities in Scotland.

MA (Hons) English Language and Literature (1st class), The University of Edinburgh, 2004.

Responsibilities & affiliations

University Community Board

Edinburgh Community Engagement Forum

Scottish Universities Communities Network

Research summary

Contact for queries about the University's community strategies and related work, including reporting, evaluation, best practice, contacts, and individual initiatives including community grants, community access to rooms and Dick Vet in the Community premises at 127 Nicolson St.

Current research interests

Ethics of community engagement Digital inclusion Social audit and outcomes measurements