Sarah Leatherwood named success advisor at OHIO Chillicothe

Sarah Leatherwood brings a background in psychology and counseling, along with a passion for working with college students, to her new role as a success advisor at Ohio University Chillicothe.

Leatherwood grew up near Minford, Ohio, and attended school in Beaver. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Shawnee State University in 2014 and continued her education at Ohio University in Athens, obtaining a Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the Patton College of Education in 2017. Leatherwood has been teaching psychology classes at Shawnee State University for six years. She has also worked as a therapist.

"I've always gravitated towards academia," she said. "Whether interning as a university counselor or teaching psychology courses, I've found a passion in working with college students. I can't think of a better way to combine my experience as a counselor and an instructor than to be a success advisor."

Leatherwood is excited about taking on a role advising students and will draw not only on her training and education but also on her experiences starting college as an undecided student.   

"I'm looking forward to helping students explore their options and find their path," she said. "When I was in college, I remained undecided for a while. I eventually settled on a major that I ended up hating. I later switched my major to psychology and loved it, but I probably would not have explored psychology if my advisor hadn't discussed it with me."

Reflecting on her own experience as a student, Leatherwood hopes to be a supportive figure for students, helping them discover their passions and thrive at OHIO Chillicothe.

In her leisure time, Leatherwood enjoys playing cozy games. She explained that many video games are too stressful for her, but she enjoys sandbox, adventure, or simulation games like Minecraft, Animal Crossing, Terraria, and My Time at Portia.

Leatherwood’s own experiences shape the advice she shares with students to follow their instincts.

"If you don't feel excited about the path you're on, ask yourself why,” she said. “It's really easy to be pressured into a specific major by friends or family. It might be the same path that your parents followed. It might be a job that you know is in high demand or pays well. These can be great reasons if you're also passionate about the field. However, these reasons might not be enough on their own. It's your life, and you deserve to spend it doing something that you love!"

Students may schedule time with Leatherwood using Microsoft Bookings, email sleatherwood@ohio.edu, or call 740.774.7752.