Sarah Snell Harder was born in 1937 in Chicago. In 1963, she received bachelors’ degrees in History and English from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She received an M.A. in English from Bowling Green State University in 1966. In the mid-1960s, she married Harry Harder, and both were hired as faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1968.

Harder held many administrative positions at the university, including Assistant to the Chancellor for Affirmative Action and Education Opportunity, Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Educational Opportunity Programs, and Women’s Studies Coordinator. From 1968 to 2000, Sarah Harder was active in numerous campus and UW System committees, including the Affirmative Action Review Board, the Commission on the Status of Women, the Children’s Center Advisory Board, Faculty and Curriculum Development Committee. She also served in university administrative roles, implementing programs for affirmative action, Title IX, and 504 regulations. Responsibilities as an administrator included developing university programs related to adults, minorities, disabled, and educationally underprepared students. She oversaw departments and programs such as the Academic Skills Center, Adult Opportunity Office, American Ethnic Coordinating Office, Upward Bound Program, and Special Services Projects for Disadvantaged Students. She also taught English courses and helped establish the Women’s Studies program at UWEC.

Sarah Harder participated in many state, regional, national and international women’s organizations. Most notably, she served as President of the Association of University Women from 1985 to 1989. She retired from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2000.