Meet Sarah Richards '89
Where do you live?
My husband and I recently moved to Western North Carolina. We love spending our free time hiking in the mountains or taking our rescue pup to the dog park. Our home is surrounded by flowers, trees, and wildlife. After 20 years of commuting to NYC from Westchester, I now enjoy working from my home office. I’m actively growing an IC Alumni Chapter here in Western NC as well as Charlotte, so if you live in one of these areas please connect with me.
What do you do for work currently?
I work at a Swiss investment bank where I lead technology vendor management. Primarily I ensure tech spending is thoughtfully planned and my company derives as much value as possible from our tech partnerships. In case you are not aware, all financial companies are also tech companies that both buy and build software.
What did you learn at IC that helped you get to where you are today (personally or professionally)?
Studying at Ithaca College was a great experience in so many ways. The students and faculty I met had a profound impact on me. One of my very kind IC friends invited me to travel through Europe the summer prior to my senior year. That trip emboldened me to move to Japan after graduation, which in turn motivated me to study Japanese, and travel further in Asia. This sparked my interest in international education, which led to working with international university students back in the USA. From there I pivoted to working for an international financial company, including a role based in Sydney, Australia, and eventually returned to New York. At every step I knew that I could learn new skills, because Ithaca College was a place to encourage learning and growing. As a student, I loved the unlimited potential to learn and Ithaca College fostered it.
How did you get involved with IC after graduating (did you volunteer? Did you speak in a classroom? Attend events?)?
When I lived in New York I attended the Network Nights events in NYC. I do my best to help alumni and students connect with others there and appreciate those who have helped me. I've also enjoyed a few IC Unity gatherings and class reunions. As an introvert these events used to be stressful for me, but I now look forward to them. Note to all fellow introvert alumni: these events are genuinely wonderful!
Why do you LOVE IC?
I have so many amazing memories of both great times and mistakes, friends and faculty, and the amazing experience of studying in Ithaca, NY. My life is richer in so many ways because of the people I met and continue to meet at Ithaca College.
Anything else interesting/pertinent that you’d like to include: (Are you close with other alumni? A professor you loved? Student orgs you were involved with?)
As a student I was very involved in the social service sorority Gamma Delta Pi, Residence Life, Amani Choir, and the radio station. After graduation, the people I knew from these affiliations are the ones I remained closest to and still connect with now. Within recent memory I've attended the gallery exhibit of an alumni from West Tower, cheered "Go Bombers" at the Cortica game with gals I met at VIC Radio, traveled to Mexico with a sorority sister, listened to Billy Bragg in concert with another sorority sister and fraternity brother, sang with the Amani Choir on campus in 2019, and sampled Finger Lake wines with former Residence Life colleagues. At the risk of sounding corny, I really love each of these people and the memories I have with them.
<<BACK