Sarah grew up in Woodland, California, and spent her family vacations in Ashland attending the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the Britt Festival.  Sarah earned a BS in interdisciplinary studies – music business in 2000.  While at SOU, she worked in the Music Department as a stage manager, performed in Concert Choir, Jazz Choir and sang with the Jazz Ensemble, and was an SOU Cheerleader.  Sarah and husband Bobby Heiken ’97 and current SOU Associate Athletic Director, moved back to Ashland after six years in Gunnison, Colorado.  She has worked since 2009 for locally owned and operated Coming Attractions Theatres, Inc., a motion picture exhibitor and family entertainment venue in Oregon, California, Washington, and Alaska and is the Director of Human Resources and Payroll. Sarah also serves on the board for Rogue Valley Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) since 2013 and the Oregon SHRM State Council since 2022.

“Southern Oregon University and Ashland, Oregon, have always been the most welcoming place to call home. As a young adult, it provided me a sense of belonging as I was able to find different groups throughout campus to join and participate in from music education and business marketing clubs to athletics. Connections I made in the late 1990s continue to support me personally and professionally even today.”