Sara Payne Scarbro

Sara Payne Scarbro, associate vice president of external engagement for the Marshall University Research Corporation, believes the path to success is showing up and working hard every single day.

“While I might not be the expert in the room, I can guarantee you one thing—I won’t be outworked. I take intense pride in everything I do,” she says.

Whether it is in her career, community service or role as a mother to her daughter, Willa, Scarbro’s idea of success bloomed years ago as a child growing up in Putnam County, and she credits her parents for instilling a strong work ethic.

“My parents guided me throughout my childhood. While they were supportive, they had high expectations. They were tough and still are,” she says. “Not going to college wasn’t an option. My parents wanted better for me than what they had growing up and that commitment shined through daily in their parenting.”

As a professional, wife and mother, Scarbro places firm importance on service to her community. She currently serves on the Junior League of Huntington’s public relations committee, MyHuntington Committee, American Foundation for the Blind Huntington advisory committee, Charleston Job Corps community relations council and parent teacher organization at her daughter’s elementary school.

“As a mother, one of the most critical jobs I have is to teach my daughter the importance of giving back to our community,” she says. “I try to organize monthly service projects for us to show her everyone can do something. Some past projects have included: fixing 75 packed lunches for the Harmony House’s homeless outreach, taking food supplies to a local church or food pantry, fixing a cooler of water for the neighborhood pool on a hot day and donating school supplies to her elementary school and children’s toys and supplies for the Huntington City Mission.”

A proud alumna, Scarbro joined the Marshall University Research Corporation in 2017.

“I have a rather large portfolio, which keeps me hopping. I am never bored,” she says. “I love that a big part of my job is to make new connections and develop and strengthen partnerships on a local, regional and statewide level. Every day is different, and I love helping my university and state grow.”

Before joining Marshall, Scarbro served on the communications team for the Office of the Governor from 2000-2010 and senior advisor and deputy state director for Senator Joe Manchin from 2010-2017. The most challenging moment of her career came during the Upper Big Branch mine disaster while serving as the press secretary for then-Governor Manchin as part of the state response team.

“This experience taught me to keep things in perspective and do my job no matter how difficult the circumstances,” she recalls. “You must try to truly under­stand others’ situations, and it is important to have a team around you that is committed to serving. Our governor and response team knew those families came first, and we needed to keep them safe and updated regularly, even if there weren’t any new details to report. Over the course of days, we ate with them, wept with them and prayed with them. It was an unforgettable experience full of sorrow that forever changed me. I love much deeper. I listen better. I laugh harder, and I always strive to do more.”

Scarbro and her husband, Derek, remain committed to West Virginia and hope to continue efforts to develop their community, the region and the state.

“My husband and I are bonded not only by our love for each other and our daughter but also by our love for the Mountain State,” she says. “We truly believe West Virginia’s best days are ahead of us.”