When Dr Sarah Bates Evoy walked across the graduation stage at South East Technological University (SETU), she did so as both a proud graduate and a member of the academic staff. Her story is one of determination, lifelong learning, and the transformative power of education.
A journey of determination and lifelong learning
Sarah’s academic journey was anything but straightforward. After struggling in mainstream education, she repeated her Leaving Certificate to secure the points to study Social Care at the former Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT). In 1999, she moved from Tallaght in Dublin to Waterford City to begin her studies—a move that changed the course of her life.
“During my time as a Social Care student, I didn’t just fall in love with Waterford City and its communities,” Sarah recalled. “I fell in love with learning for the very first time. I discovered that I could thrive in an educational environment that played to my strengths.”
I fell in love with learning for the very first time. I discovered that I could thrive in an educational environment that played to my strengths.”
Dr Sarah Bates Evoy
Building a career in social care and education
After graduating in 2003, Sarah made Waterford her home. She worked for many years as a Social Care Worker with local services including Lady Lane Men’s Hostel, Treo, and the Subla Project, before joining the Linkage Programme in 2007 as a Training and Employment Officer for ex-offenders in Waterford and Wexford. During this time, she returned to education part-time to complete a master’s in Adult Guidance and Counselling at NUI Maynooth.
In 2010, Sarah began working as an Adult Tutor across Back to Education initiatives, Community Education programmes, and local training initiatives in Waterford City. “It was then that I realised how much I valued being part of other adult learners’ educational journeys,” she said. “I was already a lifelong learner, but I came to truly treasure seeing adults grow in confidence and skill through education.”
Returning to study and discovering new opportunities
Three years later, she returned to WIT once again to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching in Further Education. The programme, led by Dr Carol O’Byrne, ignited a new chapter in her academic life. Just as she was finishing the course, Sarah was invited to apply for a WIT-funded PhD project exploring the professional identities of those working in Further Education.
“I decided to throw my hat in the ring and was honoured to be selected,” she said. “To have Carol O’Byrne as my PhD supervisor was an incredible privilege. I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor.”
Nine years later, Sarah successfully completed her doctoral research and graduated with her PhD—achieving a dream that once felt out of reach. Along the way, another opportunity arose. In 2019, while completing her PhD, she was appointed as a lecturer in SETU’s Department of Education, a role she described as “a full-circle moment.”
Inspiring the next generation
“Now I have the profound privilege of teaching on the very postgraduate programme I once completed,” Sarah said. “I get to support students who are contributing to society in the very areas I came from—social care, community education and development, adult and further education. I also have the pleasure of working alongside committed, intelligent, and creative colleagues who care deeply for our students.”
A graduation day to remember
Reflecting on her graduation day, Sarah said it was even more special than she imagined.
“It was so much more than I thought it would be—way more special,” she said. “The PhD is such a solo journey in many ways, and then the graduation is such a community event. I didn’t expect to get so much joy from it. So many of the Department of Education graduates were past students of mine; I got to be part of their graduation day, and they got to be part of mine. It was wonderful to be ‘seen’ by them and to be cheered on by them.” Sarah’s fellow graduates stood and cheered as she received her parchment. “It was an extremely emotional experience and I will never forget it.”
A true full-circle moment
Sarah’s graduation also marked a unique milestone—she was the very first WIT graduate to walk across the stage back in 2003 when she completed her Level 8 degree in Social Care. “My class group just happened to be the first that year, and as my surname begins with ‘B’, I was the first graduate ever called,” she smiled. “To walk across the stage again all these years later as Dr Sarah Bates Evoy was a life affirming moment.”
“SETU has afforded me one opportunity after another to advance both my education and my professional life,” she added. “Graduating with my PhD was another true full-circle moment—witnessed by my colleagues, students, and the people who have supported me every step of the way: my Mam Sheila, my Dad Gerry, my husband John, and my gifted supervisor, colleague and friend, Dr Carol O’Byrne.”
