Sara is pursuing a PhD in Political Science, with concentrations in International Relations and Comparative Politics, and she has experience in academia, government, and the non-profit sector. Her current research and interests span across regions to examine political violence, conflict resolution and peacekeeping, and security sector reform, with a special focus on the role of gender. Sara’s most recent work examines the effectiveness of post-conflict security sector reform on gender-based outcomes. Additionally, she serves as a lead research assistant with the University’s Gender Equality in Public Administration (GEPA) working-group which tracks gendered data in public administration, particularly in conflict-affected countries, in support of UNDP efforts. Prior to attending the University of Pittsburgh, Sara successfully completed a year of national service as an AmeriCorps VISTA with United Way.