Sarah Shumpert

Associate Vice President, Organizational Development and Strategic Planning

Bachelor of Media Arts, University of South Carolina

Master of Library and Information Science, with U.S. Department of Education Title II-B Fellowship, University of South Carolina

Certificate of Graduate Study, Higher Education Leadership

Certified Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator

Sarah Shumpert sees herself in many of the TCTC students she has interacted with over her 31-year career at the College.  She recognizes the challenges and struggles first-gen students face during their first time on campus because she also didn’t have the family tradition of going to college.  “I experienced those same fears when going on a college campus to ask questions, to get information, to apply for admission or ask for directions.”

In Shumpert’s varied roles at the College, often her focus has been designing and implementing interventions for first-time freshmen. She has guided innovative, results-oriented initiatives, which made substantive changes that supported students and their successes, as well as their sense of belonging.

Shumpert was a self-proclaimed C student in high school and had lots of doubts about her academic ability and her future. The youngest of five children, she was the only one to even consider going to college after high school graduation.

“Neither of my parents went to college. My father made a good living in manufacturing working for Mack Truck, and my mom held down a part-time retail job. No one considered college.  It’s just not something my family did. They were not academically focused. My father made a good living without a degree. It was assumed my siblings and I would get jobs after high school. So, when I decided to go to college, it was actively discouraged. We were a blue-collar family, they said. Stay in your community.”

At the very last minute, several months before graduation, Shumpert decided to apply to a college. “I asked myself, how can I change my life?’  I didn’t want that future.  I surprised myself when I didn’t accept this predestined life. My inner courage came through against the trend of our community.  I know now it took courage and guts.  Nobody supported the idea because it was impractical. I was on my own to figure it out,” she said.

“I had to borrow money to go to college. I felt like a fish out of water,” she said.

The family was living in Pennsylvania at the time and Shumpert says she didn’t know about two-year colleges, which would have been the perfect choice for her.  There was no one to guide her so she took out a loan and attended her first semester at a Christian college.

“Looking back, if only I had a place like TCTC, it would have built my confidence level. I could have graduated with less stress and no debt,” she said.

Her father was transferred to South Carolina and they moved.  Shumpert worked for a year and later applied to the University of South Carolina and was accepted.  “Like I said, I didn’t know about two -year colleges. Again, I figured out the financial aid on my own.  That was the hardest part of college,” she said.

“The entire time I was a student at USC, I was intimidated. I felt like a fraud. Each step I took I expected to be stopped. I assumed everyone but me knew everything, so I didn’t ask questions,” said Shumpert.

She received a Pell grant and worked 30 hours a week as an undergraduate to supplement her income. She gained personal and academic confidence and her grades reflected that. She began to feel comfortable as a student. 

“By the time I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in media arts, my parents came around and changed their minds about education.  They were proud of me,” said Shumpert.

So were her siblings, all of whom eventually earned credentials.

Her first job was at SC ETV as a studio production assistant where she stayed three years.

She earned a fellowship and enrolled in UJSC’s master’s program in Library and Information Science. “The fellowship paid tuition and a stipend. It was too good to be true,” she said.

She joined the faculty of Berea High School in 1994 as a library media specialist. She moved to Anderson in 1997 and accepted a job at TCTC as librarian and later was named director of curriculum and instructional support.  She served in that role for 19 years before transitioning to director of academic development. 

Last year Shumpert was named associate vice president of organizational development and planning.

“Joining TCTC was a good move. I have stayed because of the good work we do here.  I see students like me and am eager to help them. If only I had had a place like TCTC, I would have felt more confident and even graduated with no debt.  I remember the USC campus was intimidating for a first gen. I immediately noticed as a TCTC staff member that Tri-County had a friendly environment.  It still does today.  I tell students you do belong here. No matter what,” she said.