Sara Merschen, DSL

Bio

Dr. Sara Merschen serves as Assistant Program Director and Assistant Professor in the Ph.D. in Counseling & Psychological Studies program at Regent University. In her role, she supports doctoral education, dissertation development, program operations, and student mentorship.

Prior to transitioning into higher education, Dr. Merschen held leadership and analytical roles within the financial services and insurance industries, where her work focused on data-informed decision-making, organizational strategy, talent development, and the development and application of machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies. This experience continues to shape her approach to teaching, leadership, and research.

Dr. Merschen’s interdisciplinary background enables her to integrate perspectives from leadership, economics, organizational behavior, data analytics, and emerging technology into her teaching and scholarship.

Her current research interests focus on the intersection of artificial intelligence, leadership, education, and counseling, with particular attention to the ethical and responsible integration of AI into counselor education and ministry settings. She is especially interested in how emerging technologies influence human decision-making, professional practice, learning, and the ways individuals and organizations navigate change.

Credentials

Doctor of Strategic Leadership, Regent University, 2025

M.A. in Economics, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2014

B.S. in Economics, Longwood University, 2012