Sarah Pieslak is an MPP candidate at the Jackson School of Global Affairs, committed to inclusive community growth through social entrepreneurship. She is specifically interested in the cross-section between climate and health as well making resources more accessible and equitable for early-stage ventures. Before coming to Yale, much of Sarah’s career focused on improving human health. At the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), she managed a collaborative program to help researchers access patient biospecimens and a portfolio of grants focused on imaging diagnostics. Sarah also spent two years at Global Health Strategies, developing creative communications and advocacy campaigns that targeted global health decision-makers. Working at both private and philanthropic organizations fortified her interest in social entrepreneurship to tackle climate-related challenges.
Sarah holds a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame with a minor in peace studies. During her undergraduate years, she evaluated sanitation needs through original fieldwork that led to an early-stage social enterprise in Léogâne, Haiti. This work leveraged participatory design methods to incorporate the local social and environmental context. At Yale, Sarah plans to further explore how social enterprises can offer a more enduring, impactful solution to climate challenges.