Sarah Baldassaro
Chief of Staff and Counselor to the President
PRES | President's Office
Bio
Sarah G. Baldassaro is the Chief of Staff and Counselor to the President of American University.
In this role, Sarah works closely with President Burwell and the leadership team on university priorities, including engagement with the AU community, advancing the Change Can’t Wait comprehensive campaign, and other cross-cutting initiatives. She is a member of the cabinet and the president’s council.
A longtime leader in higher education, Sarah joined AU from the George Washington University, where she spent twelve years, most recently as Interim Vice President for Communications and Marketing.
She previously served on Capitol Hill as Communications Director to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, leading the development and execution of communications strategy for the senator’s legislative agenda.
Sarah served during the Clinton Administration as a White House spokesperson, including as Deputy Press Secretary and Director of Media Relations. She also was a public affairs specialist at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Sarah has also been a presidential campaign spokesperson and strategist, including roles as Deputy Communications Director for the Kerry-Edwards campaign and Communications Director to Teresa Heinz Kerry, traveling with the candidate's wife. She also was a senior media strategist for the Glover Park Group, providing communications counsel to public affairs clients.
Sarah received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan. She resides in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband Fred Baldassaro and son Theodore.
