Sara Cortez is a 2017 graduate of the Heinz College’s Master of Science in Public Policy and Management program. Since August 2017, she has worked as a Fiscal and Policy Analyst at the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, in the program areas of Early Education, Child Care, and Child Nutrition. 

The California Legislative Analyst's Office, or LAO, serves as the "eyes and ears" of the California Legislature, providing fiscal and policy advice and nonpartisan budget analysis to ensure that legislative policy is implemented in a cost efficient and effective manner by California’s executive branch.