Sara Payne Scarbro is a proud daughter of Marshall University. While at Marshall, she studied journalism with a concentration in public relations and political science. Early in her professional career, she worked at both the statehouse and in federal government, working with members of the media, constituent services and public outreach.
She joined the Marshall University Research Corporation as Associate VP for External Engagement in 2017 and in July 2022 Marshall President Brad D. Smith named Sara the Associate VP for Government Relations. She builds partnerships and connections with community, business, educational and governmental leaders. She travels across the state to educate and promote Marshall programs, services and partnerships.
She also serves as the Senior Advisor to the Alliance for the Economic Development of Southern West Virginia, a higher education collaborative of 11 institutions in Southern West Virginia, and the Principal Investigator to the West Virginia Grant Resource Centers, an Appalachian Regional Commission-funded project that support grant writing for small communities and other eligible applicants. She serves as one of the lead planners of West Virginia’s annual Small Communities, BIG Solutions Conference, which connects hundreds of West Virginians to state leaders, real WV success stories and networking opportunities.
Sara’s public service and dedication to public relations, communications, and the Mountain State have been acknowledged by others. She received PRSA West Virginia’s 2010 Public Relations Practitioner of the Year award. In 2013, Sara was named one of 40 under 40 statewide leaders by the State Journal. She is an Appalachian Regional Commission’s Appalachian Leadership Institute 2022 Fellow and a 2022 West Virginia Executive Young Gun.
She is a past president of PRSA West Virginia Chapter and a past board member of PRSA East Central District. She is a member the Huntington Advisory Council for the American Foundation for the Blind; the Community Relations Council of the Charleston Job Corps; and the Junior League of Huntington.
