Sara Goldrick-Rab

Sara Goldrick-Rab

Keynote Speaker: Professor of Higher Education Policy and Sociology at Temple University, and Founder of the Wisconsin HOPE Lab

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Sara Goldrick-Rab Biography

Sara Goldrick-Rab is a scholar-activist whose pathbreaking research, teaching, and advocacy has changed how higher education understands and supports college students. A sociologist, she focuses on reducing poverty by revealing unheard truths and sharing that knowledge with multiple publics. Goldrick-Rab’s award-winning book, Paying the Price: College Costs, Financial Aid, and the Betrayal of the American Dream, documents the failures of policymakers and higher education institutions to make college affordable. Her scientific studies identifying and addressing college students’ basic needs for food, housing, childcare, transportation, and health supports sparked the internationally-known #RealCollege movement and inspired federal and state data collection and legislation, as well as countless privately-funded programs.

Goldrick-Rab has founded, led, and supported the growth of multiple organizations transforming higher education. In 2013 she founded the Wisconsin HOPE Lab, and for almost a decade oversaw its growth into The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, a 50-person national university center with an annual budget of more than $8M. In 2016 she founded Believe in Students, a national nonprofit that distributed more than $2M in emergency aid to students during the pandemic and empowers faculty to become powerful educators that recognize their students are humans first. In 2019 she translated her research findings into a product that makes it possible for low-income people to access emergency support quickly and with dignity; that work is now advanced by Beam, a Brooklyn-based company.

The recipient of many awards, Goldrick-Rab has appeared on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and won the $100,000 Grawemeyer prize, which she distributed to students around the country. In 2016, POLITICO magazine named Goldrick-Rab one of the top 50 people shaping American politics. She earned a Carnegie Fellowship, a William T. Grant Foundation Faculty Scholars Award, the American Educational Research Association’s Early Career Award, and in 2021 she was named a Monumental Alumna by George Washington University. As a university professor, Goldrick-Rab earned tenure at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and spent nearly 20 years there and at Temple University.

Having retired from academia in 2022, Goldrick-Rab now collaborates, mentors, and writes with people and organizations around the world as CEO of EduOptimists. She also serves as senior fellow at Education Northwest and teaches Sociology 101 at the Community College of Philadelphia. Her next book, Real College, is under development.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Sara Goldrick-Rab and other top speakers and celebrities.

Sara Goldrick-Rab Videos

Sara Goldrick-Rab: Holding institutions accountable
College Affordability Crisis: Sara Goldrick-Rab
Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab at Portland Community College

How do I book Sara Goldrick-Rab to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Sara Goldrick-Rab for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Sara Goldrick-Rab, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Sara Goldrick-Rab or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Sara Goldrick-Rab for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Sara Goldrick-Rab, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $20,000 - $30,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Sara Goldrick-Rab, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Sara Goldrick-Rab speak about?

Sara Goldrick-Rab is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Professors, Social Sciences, Overcoming Adversity, Education and Education Reform.

Where does Sara Goldrick-Rab travel from?

Sara Goldrick-Rab generally travels from Philadelphia, PA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Sara Goldrick-Rab?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Sara Goldrick-Rab for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Sara Goldrick-Rab for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Sara Goldrick-Rab or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Sara Goldrick-Rab is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Professors, Social Sciences and Overcoming Adversity. The estimated speaking fee range to book Sara Goldrick-Rab for live events is $20,000 - $30,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Sara Goldrick-Rab generally travels from Philadelphia, PA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Kathryn Edin, Victor Rios and Nell K. Duke. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Sara Goldrick-Rab for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 11/06/2025.

Sara Goldrick-Rab Videos

Sara Goldrick-Rab: Holding institutions accountable
College Affordability Crisis: Sara Goldrick-Rab
Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab at Portland Community College
Sara Goldrick-Rab SXSWedu 2017 Keynote
  • How do I book Sara Goldrick-Rab to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Sara Goldrick-Rab for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Sara Goldrick-Rab, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Sara Goldrick-Rab or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Sara Goldrick-Rab for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Sara Goldrick-Rab, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $20,000 - $30,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Sara Goldrick-Rab, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Sara Goldrick-Rab speak about?

    Sara Goldrick-Rab is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Professors, Social Sciences, Overcoming Adversity, Education and Education Reform.
  • Where does Sara Goldrick-Rab travel from?

    Sara Goldrick-Rab generally travels from Philadelphia, PA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Sara Goldrick-Rab?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Sara Goldrick-Rab for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Sara Goldrick-Rab for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Sara Goldrick-Rab or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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