Sara Lonardo, Executive Director

Sara Lonardo is the Executive Director of the Women's Congressional Staff Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to creating the next generation of female leadership on Capitol Hill through scholarships, mentorship and professional development. As a co-founder of WCSF, Sara helped launch the organization in 2018 and served as its founding Board Chair. Throughout her career, Sara has been committed to helping mission-driven organizations tell their stories, build strategic partnerships and create opportunities for the next generation of public servants.

Prior to joining WCSF full time, Sara held senior communications leadership positions in government, advocacy, and on Capitol Hill. She served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Biden-Harris Administration, where she oversaw communications strategy for the Department's health care portfolio. She also served as Senior Director of Communications at Families USA and Assistant Director of Communications for National Media at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Sara's Capitol Hill experience includes serving as Communications Director for Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Press Secretary for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee under then-Chairman Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), and roles with the House Committee on Education and Labor under then-Chairman George Miller (D-CA). She previously served as President of the Women's Congressional Staff Association.

A Rhode Island native, Sara graduated cum laude with Departmental Honors in Public Policy from Wheaton College (Massachusetts).