Bio

A key glue to the Shawnee State University Athletic Department, 2022 Shawnee State University graduate Sara Martin enters her second year enhancing the overall visual project of all pieces out of the athletic office.

Sara, who grew up in Leon, Spain, graduated from IES Eras de Renueva in Spain, then went on to pursue a bachelor's degree in Arts and Design at the Universite de Nimes in France from 2015 to 2018, where she learned to combine creativity with design principles.

Upon moving to the United States, Sara, in addition to pursuing an associate's degree at Barton Community College, played women's soccer and women's tennis at the Great Bend, Kan.-based community college for two years from 2018 to 2020, helping the women's tennis program go 10-6-5 over two seasons of play while also aiding the women's soccer program to a 24-12-1 record while with the Cougars. Martin ultimately made her way to Shawnee State in the Fall 2020 semester, where she finished her women's tennis career at SSU and served as a student assistant for the women's soccer program. Martin continues to work with both programs closely today due to the friendships that she developed within both programs.

"These experiences taught me discipline, teamwork, and time management, all of which have been essential in my career as a designer," Martin said. "My journey through different educational systems and my involvement in sports have greatly influenced the person and professional I am today."

Since graduating from Shawnee State with a bachelor's degree in graphic design in April 2022, Martin has graciously given back over the past two seasons in multiple facets -- designing anything from Senior Day posters and gameday programs for all programs imaginable to helping with record maintenance and upkeep.

"I want to make designs that people remember—something that makes them proud to be part of SSU," Martin said. "I hope my work helps build a strong, recognizable brand for our athletic department. I also want to show how powerful good design can be in connecting people to our teams and events."

This past spring, Martin was an assistant coach for the Shawnee State men's and women's tennis programs, with Martin using her know-how in the sport to guide the SSU men's tennis program to its most victories in a single-season in program history while helping the women's tennis program tie a single-season record for wins in a year as well. As a women's tennis player (2021) and coach (2024), Martin has been a part of each of the two units that have won at least seven matches in a season.

Along with her work at Shawnee State, Martin does freelance programs in her spare time -- which helps, she says, with her own creativity.

"Besides my work at SSU, I also take on graphic design projects online," Martin said. "These freelance projects give me a chance to try out new ideas and keep improving my skills. Working on different types of designs helps me stay creative and brings fresh perspectives to my work at SSU. Going forward, I want to keep getting better at design and learn new skills, like motion graphics," Martin said. "I also want to continue working on freelance projects to expand my experience. Personally, I hope to maintain a good work-life balance and stay connected with the SSU community. My goal is to keep growing, both professionally and personally, and make a positive impact through my work."