Sara Payne Scarbro, Associate Vice President for Government Relations at Marshall University and Principal Investigator for the West Virgnia Grant Resource Centers. Sara brings expertise in the development and strengthening of Marshall’s relationships with communities and organizations across the state, and she has experience leading federal projects. She is an expert communicator who has been recognized by her peers for her public excellent relations and leadership skills. Honors include West Virginia Public Relations Practitioner of the Year Award in 2010; 40 under 40 Generation Next young professionals award 2013; West Virginia Young Guns in 2022; and a graduate of the highly competitive ARC’s Appalachian Leadership Institution in 2022. As a lifelong West Virginia, Sara has spent most of her career in public service at the state and federal levels. She brings intense passion for her home state and its people. She is married to her college sweetheart Derek, and they have one daughter.
