Dr. Sarah Coley is Vice President, Senior Researcher at Truist Leadership Institute. She is responsible for conducting external research, program evaluation, and data analysis to drive continuous improvement of all programming, services, and leadership resources. She has been a Senior Researcher since September 2019 and is a member of Truist Leadership Institute’s Research Team.

Previously, Dr. Coley held numerous roles at Northern Illinois University. Responsible for accreditation, assessment, and evaluation, Dr. Coley contributed to data integrity, data processing, and reporting to improve over 140 programs. She educated graduate and undergraduate assistants on best practices and collaborated with the Vice Provost for Institutional Effectiveness to coordinate and conduct program evaluations. Dr. Coley supported the U.S. Air Force Family Advocacy Program, which is dedicated to developing a deeper understanding of domestic violence. She brings a background in motivation and behavior research, allowing her to craft a learning experience rooted in the perspective of each participant.

A passionate believer in the importance of research and data integrity, Dr. Coley works in partnership with Truist Leadership Institute to support university research efforts. As the author of several peer-reviewed academic publications and a member of Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, she presents at national conferences and engages in dialogue related to leadership and employee experience.