Hannah Sawyer is the Director of State Communications. In this role, she coordinates the work of the state communications team to shape public debates and opinion on state policy issues and build strategic communications capacity across the State Priorities Partnership network. She leads a team of communications experts, who provide technical assistance and training to state policy advocates on a range of skills, from visual design to digital media to public speaking and more. Hannah specializes in message development and public opinion polling, and has experience in branding, writing, editing, earned media tactics, and policy issue campaigns.

Prior to joining the Center in 2019, Hannah worked at Arnold Ventures, a national philanthropy headquartered in Houston, Texas. At Arnold, she oversaw strategic communications for the organization’s Public Health, Public Finance, Higher Education, and Evidence-Based Policy initiatives. Hannah also served as a content manager for the philanthropy’s website and led the production of solution papers, policy briefs, and other materials. Previously, she worked as a journalist in Pennsylvania, where she covered municipal issues, including local government budgeting and urban redevelopment planning, and produced daily stories and long-form reports featuring multimedia elements. She graduated magna cum laude with a degree in English from Gettysburg College.