Spring into Leadership! - Columbia College

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Parallel Passions: After nearly 43 years as a social worker and educator, one might think that Dr. Sarah Sloan Kreutziger ’64 had given some thought to winding down her career. Sarah will tell you that she took early retirement to spend more time with her grandchildren and volunteer interests. But as she talks, it’s anything but a leisurely life of retirement that she describes. “I’m still on about five dissertation committees for Tulane at the moment, and in June I’ll know whether I’ve been elected to serve as lay leader for my church conference.” In case you don’t “speak Methodist,” as Sarah says, that means she’s in the running as the only current nominee for Louisiana’s highest non-clergy leadership position in the United Methodist Church. Sarah and her physician husband of 42 years, Keith, reside in New Orleans. The Kreutziger’s daughter, Kathy, is a physician also working in New Orleans, and is married with three children. Their son, Joey, is completing his doctorate in English in New York City, also married, with two children. 4 “When we graduated, we were sure our generation could save the world!” Dr. Sarah Sloan Kreutziger ’64 Sara and Keith’s home is just a few blocks from houses that were five feet under water following Hurricane Katrina. “We were so fortunate, we had to evacuate for a month and our house took some damage. That’s nothing compared to what so many had and continue to endure…over 250,000 homes were destroyed, and that’s hard to wrap your mind around.” She continues, “It has been a difficult two and a half years, but some good has come from it all, like stronger state ethics laws and a chance for better schools. Thousands of volunteers poured into Louisiana, mostly faith-based and college groups, including 1,500 people who have stayed at our church alone. We give thanks and go on day by day.” As a social worker who has specialized in end-of-life care, Sarah knows very well the stages of shock and grief that so many Louisianans have faced. Her interests and research with critically ill patients and near-death experiences drove her to closely examine her beliefs as a young professional, “There was a period
in my early 30s when I was very much a ‘seeker’…anybody serious about faith will question and explore along their journey. I had to be at peace with my beliefs—and with the reality of death—to be able to help others in a clinical environment. Part of it is being at home talking about things that others may not be comfortable with.” In clinical settings, Sarah often encountered situations where she did not know an individual or their personal beliefs. In those moments, she says, “The Holy Spirit stands in the gap, creating a bridge for whatever people are going through.” Not surprisingly, Sarah’s activism and leadership in the United Methodist Church have been an equally fulfilling parallel to her professional career. She has travelled extensively, participating at the state, national, and international level in the church, including serving as a delegate to three general and jurisdictional conferences and four World Methodist Conferences. One achievement of which she is most proud is having been the first associate lay leader ever nominated from the floor of Louisiana’s UMC annual conference. An incredibly rare occurrence, when she was elected, “It was such an honor, and very humbling.” Sarah is originally from North Carolina, but moved a great deal during her childhood as her father worked for the Army Corps of Engineers. Descended from a long line of Methodists, and with family connections in Columbia, Sarah’s parents decided that she would attend Columbia College. Reflecting on her time at the College, Sarah credits the care and nurturing she received from her professors as “a great deal of the reason for any success I’ve had in life.” Just prior to enrolling, she had lived abroad with her family during her high school years. When she returned to the United States, she wasn’t sure if she was ready for college, “I didn’t feel that I fit in very well with the other girls at first, but things clicked once I started classes.” She was selected for a Social Work and Servant Leadership pilot program called “Trimester” which challenged eleven academically gifted students to an intensive curriculum, allowing them to graduate, if successful, in three years. Only five of the eleven original students graduated from the program in three years, including Sarah. Majoring in sociology, she was eager to go to graduate school and continue her preparation for a life of service. “When we graduated, we were sure our generation could save the world!” She earned her M.S.S.W. at the University of Tennessee and a Ph.D. in social work at Tulane. She spent many years in her career working closely with medical services, particularly in mental health. Sarah received several major awards in social work, including Tulane’s Volunteer Award, the Gainesville, Florida NASW Chapter of Social Worker of the Year, and the Council of Social Work Education’s Continuing Professional Educator’s Award. Eventually her focus changed to higher and continuing education, and she joined the Tulane University faculty in 1991. Since “retiring” in 2005, her love of connecting with young scholars and teaching brings her back to Tulane often, “I hang around enough to keep my parking privileges and my e-mail address!” In fact, she expects to return to teaching part-time as soon as restructuring of some of the college’s programs is complete. Meanwhile, Sarah is enjoying some extra time with her family, especially the grandchildren, and traveling. She recently returned from a two-week trip to the Holy Land and Egypt. Her work with the United Methodist Church is something she looks forward to stepping up, and she’s excited and passionate to serve in any role where she’s needed. Sarah sums it up this way, “I always remember the saying ‘to whom much is given, much is required,’… I’ve had an incredibly satisfying calling from which to build a rich spiritual life,” she adds with a chuckle, “and I don’t get much sleep!” D Sara and Keith Kreutziger with her brother and sister-in-law, son-in-law, daughter, and two grandchildren at church on Mother’s Day 2007. Sara and Keith Kreutziger on Temple Mount in Jerusalem with the Dome of the Rock behind them. 5
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