Sara Lynn Gibson

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Born on October 29, 1977, Sara Lynn Gibson passed away on February 4, 2026. She graduated from Conrad Weiser High School in 1995, and received her Bachelor of Arts in Graphic and Advertising Design from Moravian College in 1999. Sara dedicated her life to the transformative power of the arts — as an educator, leader, designer, and artist. Throughout her career, she built vibrant programs, nurtured creative communities, and opened doors for thousands of students of all ages to discover their artistic voices. 
Most recently, she served the Yocum Institute for Arts Education in West Lawn, Pennsylvania, from 2015 to 2024 in numerous roles including Registrar, Visual Art Department Head, Gallery Coordinator, Teaching Artist, and Graphic Designer. In this multifaceted position, she became a connective thread within the Institute — overseeing registration for more than 1,500 families each season, coordinating enrollments, supporting six academic departments, and ensuring that students from preschoolers to adults could access high-quality arts education. Sara also curated exhibitions in the Holleran Gallery, collaborated with artists and committees, and designed marketing materials that reflected the creative spirit of the organization. In a nonprofit environment, she was known for stepping forward wherever needed — steady, capable, and committed.
Before returning to Pennsylvania, she served as Director of Continuing Studies at the Maine College of Art in Portland, where she developed and managed courses, led strategic planning initiatives, and expanded partnerships throughout the arts community. Earlier in her career, she served as Program Director at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, building comprehensive programming for all ages and strengthening community partnerships across disciplines.
From 2005 to 2009, Sara held a leadership role at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), Louisiana’s arts conservatory for high school students. She worked at NOCCA in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, helping the institution and its students regain stability and hope during a tremendously difficult time. As Manager of Special Projects, she helped develop innovative curriculum initiatives, launched recruitment programs, organized major events, and played a key role in communications and design. Her resilience and compassion supported young artists as they rebuilt not only their education, but their sense of normalcy and community.
Sara began her career at the Institute of the Arts in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, as Assistant Director and faculty member, where she developed programs, curated exhibitions, taught drawing, and championed community arts education. Across every institution she served, her work was marked by vision, organization, creativity, and an unwavering belief that the arts matter. She was a builder of programs, a mentor to teachers, and a tireless advocate for students. Thousands of children, teens, and adults experienced the joy of artistic growth because of her work.
Above all, Sara was a loving and devoted mother to her two sons, Bodhi, age 14, and Huxley, age 11, who were the center of her world. She is also survived by her father, her sister, her brother, and an aunt and uncle. She was married to Ron Tragessor. Her legacy lives on not only in the thriving arts communities she helped shape, but in the lives of her children and all those who were inspired by her dedication, creativity, and generous spirit. Her family and many friends will cherish her memory which lives on in her vibrant collection of paintings and drawings.
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