Dr. Loleta Sartin’s career reflects a sustained commitment to building relationships and uplifting those around her. From her days as an elementary school teacher to her leadership roles at Mercer University, serving others has been not only her priority but her passion.
Dr. Sartin, who joined Mercer’s College of Education in 2020 and transitioned to the College of Professional Advancement in July, was recently awarded the 2025 Cindi Chance Award from the Georgia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, which recognizes outstanding service and contributions to educator preparation.
“This recognition affirms the work that I have devoted to this profession, and it also honors the educators and mentors who shaped my journey,” she said. “I stand on the shoulders of many who paved the way. Receiving this award reminds me that leadership should be grounded in service, collaboration and genuine support for the people we serve. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue contributing in meaningful ways.”
Dr. Sartin, who grew up in Louisiana, followed in the footsteps of her parents, both of whom were educators. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Southern University in New Orleans and, upon graduation, began teaching fourth grade in that community.
“I truly believe in the power of relationships,” she said. “As a fourth-grade teacher, I understood that my greatest strength was building connections not only with students but with their families. Once parents knew I genuinely cared about the students’ well-being, we could work together to determine what was in their child’s best interest.”
A few years later, she landed a job as director of the developmental school program for Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, where for seven years she led efforts to build partnerships among the university, local school district and the Yale University Child Study Center. She also earned her master’s degree in elementary and gifted education from Drury and later completed her Ph.D. in higher education administration from Saint Louis University.
Wanting to move back to the South, she joined Macon State College, now Middle Georgia State University, in 2005. There, she helped build the School of Education and later served as associate dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences and chair of the Department of Education and Social Work.
“There are rare moments in a career when you have the opportunity to leave your fingerprint on something just beginning,” she said. “That is where I thrive — building foundations, putting structures in place and helping ideas take shape.”
Dr. Sartin was recommended by educator Dr. Cindi Chance — for whom the Georgia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education award is named — for the associate dean position in Mercer’s College of Education.
Among her proudest accomplishments is her work with the College of Education’s GENERATE teacher residency program. In fall 2022, she served as the principal investigator on a $9.1 million award from the U.S. Department of Education — the largest grant in the College’s history. The three-year program supported more than 400 working adults in earning master’s or bachelor’s degrees in education at no cost to them. The program eliminated financial barriers for aspiring educators, helping them to realize their longtime career dreams.
“I’m most proud of the grant because of the lives that were changed,” she said. “I often reference that our gifts and talents are not our own but are meant to be used in service to others. GENERATE was built on that belief. Everything we did with GENERATE was for the benefit of others. Many of the participants, immediately upon graduation, were promoted or received various accolades.”
In July, Dr. Sartin became a professor of organizational leadership and associate dean for strategic initiatives in the College of Professional Advancement. In this new venture, her focus is forging new partnerships and pipelines with industries and institutions from Georgia to abroad. She is committed to advancing the College’s mission of meeting the educational needs of working adults and identifying new, innovative ways to support students.
“Whenever I join an organization, I start by asking how I can add value and strengthen the work already underway,” she said. “At COPA, there is already a strong foundation in place. My goal is to support growth and foster collective success.”
Dr. Sartin said she took the scenic route during her college education, and it wasn’t a “beautiful linear journey.” That experience provided her with a perspective that is especially relevant in her new role in the College of Professional Advancement.
“I learned that students are so much more than their academic record or the pace of their journey,” she said. “In this role, I have the opportunity to assist adult learners in ways that honor their lived experiences and to help create pathways that make college attainable. I want to continue to make education accessible, achievable, and transformative for the learners we serve.”
