Connection to NWC
As an Illinois native, Sara Robertson ’54, Ed.D. narrowed her college choices to Wheaton (close to home) or Northwestern College in Minnesota. She sent away for a catalog from both schools and within a week received response from Northwestern. When she didn’t receive a Wheaton catalog she took this as a sign she was meant to attend Northwestern.

Education and career
Her experience at NWC had great impact on her future, specifically stemming from Robertson’s involvement in the speech program/debate team. While at NWC, Mark Lee, then chair of the speech department, became Robertson’s mentor and she stays in touch with him to this day. After graduation, she went on to teach high school speech. It was there that she met individuals involved in Pioneer Clubs, leading her to a career in curriculum development, fundraising and her eventual position as the vice president for development for Pioneer Clubs.

Vision for NWC
As Northwestern not only provides education, but also media ministry, Robertson strongly believes there is great opportunity to influence many generations through both the college programs and on-air.

“I am impressed at the incredible quality of thinking that has gone into the development of the curriculum and the various programs at Northwestern,” said Robertson.

She also sees the personal interest that faculty take in their teaching and their students as an extremely important part of the institution.

Interests
Now retired, Robertson is an avid reader and manages to read four or five books at once: fiction, nonfiction, religious, and something related to her passions in gender issues or ecology. She also enjoys traveling, sailing, camping, playing games and visiting her cottage in Michigan.

Values to live by
While traveling during college, Robertson heard a sermon from which she drew three principles that guide her life: schedule, proportion, and remaining spiritually minded.

“Being spiritually minded is incumbent on us as Christians to grow,” said Robertson. “Each day I try to be very aware of how I’m living, making sure that it’s according to the fruit of the Spirit. It’s important to continue growing in the Lord—even for someone who graduated 56 years ago.”