Ph.D. Higher Education Administration, Saint Louis University M.Ed. Elementary and Gifted Education, Drury University B.S. Elementary Education (1st-8th), Southern University at New Orleans
Biography
Dr. Loleta D. Sartin brings 30 years of experience across P–12 and higher education, with expertise in strategic leadership, accreditation, enrollment growth, and creating innovative academic pathways that expand access and opportunity.
Prior to joining Georgia College & State University, Dr. Sartin was Professor and Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives in Mercer University's College of Professional Advancement, where she led initiatives focused on strategic enrollment partnerships, institutional effectiveness, and academic programs designed to meet workforce needs while expanding opportunities for adult learners. She also served as Associate Dean in Mercer's Tift College of Education and previously as Associate Dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences and Chair of the Department of Teacher Education and Social Work at Middle Georgia State University. As a founding faculty member of the School of Education, she helped design and launch educator preparation programs that continue to serve communities across Georgia.
Dr. Sartin began her career as a fourth-grade teacher in New Orleans Public Schools before becoming Director of the Developmental School Program at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. There, she led a nationally recognized collaboration among the university, Springfield Public Schools, and the Yale University Child Study Center, connecting university research with classroom practice to improve outcomes for children and families.
Throughout her career, Dr. Sartin has been drawn to opportunities to build programs, strengthen organizations, and help institutions realize their full potential. She has secured and managed significant federal, state, and philanthropic funding to expand access to education and strengthen the educator workforce. She served as Principal Investigator for a $9.1 million U.S. Department of Education Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) grant, the largest federal grant in Mercer University's College of Education history. The initiative removed financial barriers for hundreds of aspiring educators while strengthening teacher recruitment and retention in high-need communities.
Recognized nationally for her contributions to educator preparation, Dr. Sartin serves as a reviewer for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), chairs accreditation site visit teams for the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, and serves on the Commission's Evaluation Review Panel. She previously served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), contributing to national conversations on educator preparation and policy.
In recognition of her service to the profession, Dr. Sartin received the 2025 Cindi Chance Award from the Georgia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, one of the organization's highest honors recognizing outstanding contributions to educator preparation in Georgia.
Dr. Sartin has built her work on a simple belief: lasting institutional success begins with strong relationships. Whether working with students, faculty, alumni, school districts, or community partners, she is committed to listening first, building trust, and creating opportunities that help others succeed.
As Dean of the John H. Lounsbury College of Education, Dr. Sartin is committed to advancing Georgia College's public liberal arts mission by preparing educators and leaders who make a meaningful difference in the lives of children, families, schools, and communities.
PhD, University of South Carolina; MEd, University of South Carolina; BA, University of Lagos
Research
Program and Unit Accreditations; Intersection of Gender and Leadership in Academia; Organization and Administration of Middle Level Education; Multicultural Education; Human Trafficking; Brain Damage; Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa
Professional Service
Member of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP); the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE); the Association of Global South Studies (AGSS); the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME); the African Studies Research Forum (ASRF).
EdD, University of Georgia; MEd, Clemson University; BA, Meredith College
Research
Middle Level Education and Teacher Education, Content Area Literacy and Student Motivation, Young Adolescents' Transition from Middle to High School
Professional Service
Reviewer for RMLE Online, Middle Grades Research Journal and Middle School Journal, as well as the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation/Association for Middle Level Education Specialized Professional Association (AMLE/CAEP SPA) and the Georgia Lighthouse Schools to Watch. Active with the National CMLA Advisory Board and the Association for Middle Level Education Foundation Board.
