Sara B. Sweetman, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Education in the College of Education and Professional Studies at the University of Rhode Island, and directs the Guiding Education in Math and Science Network (GEMS-Net), a school-university partnership focused continual improvement in STEM teaching and learning. As director of GEMS-Net, Sara conducts rapid cycle mixed-methodology research to inform the project’s continuous improvement cycle and to work in partnership with 13 public school districts to provide professional learning opportunities for over 15,000 Pre-K through grade 8 teachers and administrators each year.

In addition, Sara is an advisor for a variety of children’s media development and productions, including the PBD Kids Weather Hunters, the CBP-PBS Ready to Learn Initiative, Sesame Street, Molly of Denali and the Too Small to Fail Campaign. She works collaboratively with producers, writers, station educators, and researchers to ensure that content being delivered through television shows, digital games, and other media sources are designed to provide meaningful learning opportunities for children and their families.

Since the Fall of 2024, Sara leads the new Environmental Education degree program at URI. She enjoys sharing her passion for learning about human-made and natural environments and for empowering people to embrace science for the betterment of their lives.