Dr. Sarah Robey

I’m Dr. Sarah Robey and I am thrilled to be the new University Honors Program Director! My academic background is in the history of science and technology. In particular, I research and write about the history of nuclear science and technology, which is a weird but fascinating niche in history (ask me about it sometime!). I grew up outside of Chicago, but I also lived in Northern California, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Germany before moving here to Idaho seven years ago. Several of those moves were thanks to fellowships, grants, and museum positions I had while working on my PhD, which I received from Temple University in 2017.

Something to know about me is that I am what you might call an “outside kid.” My favorite things to do in my free time all involve fresh air and sunshine (and usually dirt, dust, and/or mud). Point in case: I am an obsessive vegetable gardener/backyard farmer. I also absolutely love to hike, kayak, and travel to places with beautiful scenery and mountains to climb. When I’m not out adventuring, you can find me lounging in the shade on my deck, reading a good novel (sci-fi and fantasy are my faves) with my three feline fur babies, Sprocket, Dino, and Pip.

What are some goals you have for the Honors Program?

The Honors Program has such great momentum right now, thanks to the stellar efforts of both the current Honors students and the Honors leadership team. So first and foremost, I want to keep that excitement and energy rolling! Over the next few years, I also want to expand Honors opportunities within more programs and departments. There are faculty in every corner of this university doing exceptional research and teaching amazing topics—I hope to develop connections across campus that help us get to the point that students in any major can conduct meaningful research or find new, exciting Honors courses that can expand their learning experiences!

What was your favorite part of Honors when you were a student?

I am the proud alumnus of the Honors Program at my undergraduate alma mater, Northeastern University. Honors was the backbone of my college experience: not only did I live and learn with my fellow Honors students, I also completed an Honors thesis. And, when I decided to switch majors rather dramatically during my sophomore year, my Honors program was essential in helping me chart a new course. Frankly, I’m indebted to those Honors faculty and friends who helped me figure out my strengths, goals, and values—without them, I don’t think I would have figured out that I wanted to go to graduate school and become a historian!

What advice do you have for Honors students?

My best advice for Honors students would be this: follow your curiosity! Lean into your electives and gen ed courses! Nerd out about the things you want to nerd out about! There is so much room in your college experience to explore things outside of your major or minor. Did you take an elective that really hooked you? Consider taking another course in that topic. Or, attend a student club event in that department. Your college experience is so much more than the sum total of your major or minor—by also embracing the things that bring you joy and excitement, you’ll get so much more out of your time at ISU.

Favorite place to go in Pocatello?

My favorite places to go in Pocatello are all up! I love walking in the trails above town—Upper City Creek, Gibson Jack, and, of course, Red Hill. There’s so much you can learn about the history of a place by seeing it from above, and there’s nothing quite like a bird’s eye view to reveal new things about where you live. I also love hiking the same trails at different times of year to see how the landscape changes through the seasons. I also have the reputation of being that friend who stops every five minutes on a hike to look at bugs or plants or mushrooms or rocks… I may be a historian by training, but I’m a natural sciences lover at heart.