Sarah Snell Harder was born in 1937 in Chicago. In 1963 she received bachelors'
degrees in History and English from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She
received an M.A. in English from Bowling Green State University in 1966. In the
mid-1960s, she married Harry Harder, and both were hired as faculty at the
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1968.
Harder held many administrative positions at the university, including Assistant to
the Chancellor for Affirmative Action and Education Opportunity, Special Assistant
to the Vice Chancellor for Educational Opportunity Programs, and Women's Studies
Coordinator. From1968 to 2000 Sarah Harder was active in numerous campus and UW
System committees, including the Affirmative Action Review Board, the Commission on
the Status of Women, the Children's Center Advisory Board, Faculty and Curriculum
Development Committee. She also served in university administrative roles,
implementing programs for affirmative action, Title IX, and 504 regulations.
Responsibilities as an administrator included developing university programs related
to adults, minorities, disabled, and educationally underprepared students. She
oversaw departments and programs such as the Academic Skills Center, Adult
Opportunity Office, American Ethnic Coordinating Office, Upward Bound Program, and
Special Services Projects for Disadvantaged Students. She also taught English
courses and helped establish the Women's Studies program at UWEC.
Sarah Harder participated in many state, regional, national and international women's
organizations. Most notably, she served as President of the Association of
University Women from 1985 to 1989. She retired from the University of Wisconsin-Eau
Claire in 2000.
