Sara Arce

A daughter of Mexican immigrants, Sara’s passion for higher education access was first instilled in her by parents whose dream was to see their daughters go to college. It was after her college experience and completing an internship in the California State Capitol that she became interested in public policy and determined to work advancing state policies that ensure all students can pursue their college dreams. 

As the Senior Vice President of Programs and Strategy, she serves as a member of the Campaign’s executive team leading strategic efforts to advance the Campaign’s vision of ensuring all Californians can attend, afford, and complete a college education. In this role, she oversees and drives alignment of strategic priorities across the organization ensuring policy impact, actionable research, and effective advocacy strategies. She brings more than a decade of experience in higher education state policy and advocacy to the role and a deep commitment to the Campaign’s mission with close to ten years in various leadership roles leading the organization’s state policy agenda.   

Sara’s experience also includes working on several political campaigns and fundraising in the non-profit sector. She is an alumnus of the California Education Policy Fellowship Program, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Leadership Institute, University of California Center Sacramento policy program, as well as a graduate of the Leadership Women Pipeline and Rockwood Leadership Institute programs. She holds a B.A. degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a double-major in Communications and English. 

Sara holds a B.A. degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a double major in Communications and English.

Alma Mater(s): University of California, Santa Barbara

Your role in one sentence: Advancing the Campaign’s policy priorities at the statewide level.

When I am not at work helping students get to and succeed in college I am…making a mess in the kitchen, trying new recipes (:

If not higher education then what cause? Fighting to end hunger and improving access to healthy food for all communities.

Sara is an alumnus of the University of California Center Sacramento policy program and the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Leadership Institute, as well as a graduate of the Leadership Women Pipeline and Rockwood Leadership Institute programs.