Encouraging others and empowering them for success is a passion of Sara Attig, Unit 12 Family Life Educator. Sara works to facilitate meaningful workshops for the community and providing support in Livingston, McLean, and Woodford Counties. Before joining the Family Life team, Sara worked in the 4-H youth development where she developed creative programs where youth learn and achieve while having fun along the journey. Some of her favorite programs include 4-H Butterfly Adventures, Wizarding World Adventure Camp, Zombie Apocalypse Camp which focuses on disaster preparedness, and Cloverbuds.

Attig earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sociology from Illinois State University and she has worked in Higher Education for most of her career, serving in a variety of roles including Associate Director of Honors at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. She also taught sociology at Heartland Community College in Normal and Pontiac, as well as Bradley University in Peoria.

Sara finds teaching is at the heart of what she loves to do. In addition to her work in Extension, she is an Assistant Adjunct Professor at Heartland Community College and teaches various sociology courses, including her favorite Marriage and Family. Sara is trained and certified to lead Poverty Simulations.

She volunteers with the Illinois Bernard Rescue through transport and occasionally fosters animals waiting to find their forever homes.
 

Professional Certifications

• Poverty Simulations
• Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue

Professional Affiliations

• National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences 
• Illinois Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences
• Joint Council of Extension Professionals

Awards

University of Illinois Extension, Program Support Excellence Award, 2020
Illinois State University, University Distinguished Service Award, 2002