Ask AGNR

Sarah Balcom is AGNR’s assistant dean for academic programs. One of her primary roles is to help create a positive, enriching, and supportive environment within the college for our students. The student experience is very different from what it once was, so we wanted to talk with Sarah about how she and her Academic Programs team is helping students succeed in today’s complex world.

Your formal training is as a veterinarian, but you’ve really chosen to focus on academia with teaching and student support. Tell us about your passion for working with students and why you’ve chosen this path.

I worked as a teaching assistant in college and spent many years tutoring high school students prior to starting veterinary school. When I started veterinary school, I envisioned myself returning to higher education to teach one day.

In August of 2010, I started as a full time lecturer in AGNR. A year later, I became the department’s undergraduate director, a position that solidified my interest in advising and administration in addition to my love of teaching.

I have been very fortunate to participate in many professional development programs both at UMD and off campus. It is professional development opportunities, my experiences teaching and advising thousands of students, and working to stay abreast of the latest research on the needs of our students that shape how I approach my work.

How do you think the mindset of students has changed during the years you've been with AGNR?

Most notably, since the pandemic, more students have come to us interested in mission-driven science, policy and advocacy than ever. They are attracted to majors, programs, and opportunities that allow them to directly engage in making their communities better.

Another significant observation of the post-COVID classes is that students are coming to college less prepared for the academic rigors they encounter here. When challenged to critically analyze a situation or evaluate competing solutions to a complex problem, they struggle.

In your relatively new role as assistant dean for academic programs, what have been some of your and the academic programs team’s strategies related to improving the student experience? How do you partner with departments and advisors across the college to implement these strategies?

I have been working with undergraduate advising offices to identify struggling students at the first inkling of trouble, so that we can help the students pinpoint what is going on. Beyond struggling students, we would like to improve student engagement and build these opportunities into existing and new courses and programs.

Additionally, we host a monthly AGNR advisors meeting that allows us to share important information and dates. Our recruitment team communicates with our departments at least monthly about the recruitment and application processes. Our career director works closely with departments to program timely and relevant workshops, panels and other opportunities. Finally, our assistant director for alumni affairs helps us connect students with alumni in the classroom and at events.

I would like to recognize that every idea and initiative that I have described here has been cultivated through the hard work of our dedicated, passionate, and hardworking Academic Programs team.

Things have become much more pressurized in today’s society. What is the responsibility of the AGNR academic programs office in terms of alleviating stress and making AGNR a welcoming and engaging place to earn a degree?

A key role of our office is to create and sustain a welcoming community for all of our students. We do this through events where students can check in with us, make a care package of snacks for themselves, and do a craft. As you walk into the Symons hall lobby, you will notice our affirmations tree with small notes of encouragement on it for students to take. You will see flyers with words of encouragement, posters with information on campus services, and instructions on how to connect with us if it is outside of work hours.

Another key role for us is to help connect students to the many academic, mental health, and wellness programs that exist on campus. Our main office, where our undergraduate peer mentors work with students one-on-one to create course plans or answer questions, is appointed with comfortable chairs, snacks, and a welcoming atmosphere to encourage students to drop in. 

by Graham Binder : Momentum Magazine Winter 2025