Sarah Fisher Gardial

Biography

Sarah Fisher Gardial joined Belmont University in 2020 as the first woman Dean in the Massey College of Business. Prior to Belmont, she was Dean of the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, and she held college and campus leadership positions at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, including Associate Dean of the Haslam College of Business and Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.  She has had leadership positions in national/international business school associations, including president of the MBA Roundtable, and conference chairs for the Graduate Management Admissions Council and the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business.

Sarah has an extensive background in business and business education.  For over 30 years, she has personally engaged with industry in research, consulting, and executive education roles, as well as creating mutually beneficial partnerships between higher education and industry.  Her leadership awards include the Prometheus Leadership Medal (University of Tennessee Center for Educational Leadership), Leadership Knoxville, Women of Achievement in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Iowa), the Iowa Women’s Foundation Tribute to Women and the Corridor Business Journal (Iowa) Woman of Influence.

Sarah has served on public and private for-profit and non-profit governing boards (United Fire Group, Learning Tree, GreenState Credit Union, United Way and the Tennessee Justice Center).  In addition, she is an active public speaker for corporations, conferences, women’s leadership events, and industry associations.   She is an outspoken advocate for women in leadership as well as organizational diversity and inclusion. 

Sarah and her retired husband, Jeffrey, recently traded in their motorcycles for a pontoon boat and lake house where they enjoy time with friends, family and especially their two grandchildren.