A Little More

As a licensed social worker and associate professor of Human Services at AACC, a lot of Sara Meinsler’s work focuses on compassionate care and treatment of other people. But she’s also a big believer in self-care. 

“I like to find ways to balance all aspects of my self-care,” she explained. “Graduates from our program often tell me that they can still hear me reminding them to practice self-care.” 

Meinsler, who worked for 10 years in the field of geriatric social work, began teaching at AACC part time in 2004 and became a full-time instructor in 2014. She also works with AACC’s Human Services Club. In 2018 she received the John & Suanne Rouch Excellence for teaching from the League for Innovation in the Community College.  

Meinsler said she finds inspiration in how resilient her students are and how much energy and excitement they bring to her classroom each day. 

“Many attend class after working two jobs, raising kids and taking care of their own mental health,” she said. “It’s very humbling to think I am teaching students who are going out into the workforce to serve people in order to improve their mental health and treat their addictions. They are saving lives.”