Determined Leader Chooses Hopkins to Drive Public Change

Published March 4, 2025

Sasha S. Nicholas, a 30-year-old resident of Arlington, Virginia, is using her graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University to deepen her impact in public policy. She is pursuing a Master of Arts in Public Management degree, set to graduate in 2025.

Nicholas’ diverse experiences, both personal and professional, have shaped her approach to public service. Raised in a multicultural family, she learned early on the importance of adaptability and perspective. These experiences and a career spanning federal government nonprofit leadership and public policy have reinforced her belief in practical, community-driven solutions.

Her career began in 2019 with a competitive unpaid internship in the Executive Office of the President, where she gained firsthand experience in federal operations at the highest level of government. By 2021, she reviewed grant applications for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, helping hospitals secure essential funding during the pandemic. Now, as Associate Manager for early childhood education programs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, she leads initiatives bringing business leaders together to address childcare challenges and workforce development.

“My background shapes how I see the world and fuels my commitment to advocating for policies that create economic opportunity, Nicholas said.

Her background in policy and governance runs deep. In 2024, she was selected for the Presidential Management Fellow Program, a prestigious federal initiative that prepares future government leaders. She also participated in the National Leadership Academy through the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, where she trained alongside elected officials and policy experts.

At Johns Hopkins, she co-chaired the governance committee in student government, helping draft the first constitution for the Graduate Student Advisory Council.

“Johns Hopkins’ emphasis on public service and leadership development really resonated with me,” she said. “The university’s Advanced Academic Programs allowed me the opportunity to balance my full-time job in Washington, D.C., with my self-financed studies, further increasing the value of my commitment.

“Juggling grad school, work, and planning a wedding all at once was a lot. There were days I felt completely drained. I was lucky to have a great professional and personal support system, but not everyone understood just how much I was balancing. At time, the pressure was overwhelming, and I had to push through moments that felt unfair. But grad school isn’t forever, and now that I’m near the finish line, I’m excited to finally shift more energy toward my family and what comes next.”

As someone born and raised in Virginia, Nicholas has always been committed to serving her community. She has served as an election officer in Arlington County, ensuring fair and accessible elections. She has also facilitated discussions on childcare’s role in workforce development, written on economic impact, and collaborated with business leaders to develop real-world solutions for working families.

Nicholas’ drive to serve is personal. A decade ago, she worked to change her own trajectory, taking community college courses before transferring to Virginia Tech, where she studied history, leadership, and social change. Since then, she has focused on expanding economic opportunity, strengthening local economies, and shaping policies that help working Americans.

“My mission is to help communities thrive by driving economic opportunity and championing compassionate leadership,” she said. “Whether urban or rural, every community deserves policies that work for them, and I want to be part of making that happen.”