Sarah Mueller is an MPP alum and currently serves as the Disability Policy Advisor to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee for Chair Patty Murray (D-WA). Keep reading to learn about her current role at HELP and how she continues to use the skills she acquired in the MPP program.

Please describe your organization and its mission. 

I work for the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee for Chair Patty Murray (D-WA). The Committee has broad jurisdiction over our country's domestic and social policy issues including health care, education, employment and retirement policies. 

Please describe your position and what your day-to-day work looks like. 

I serve as the Disability Policy Advisor to the HELP Committee and advise Senator Murray on disability policy matters across the Committee's jurisdiction including related to the Americans with Disabilities Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as well as, health disparities, supplemental security income and social security disability insurance, competitive integrated employment, and much more. I work to embed disability into every policy we work on at the outset because every policy issue impacts people with disabilities.  

How did your time in the MPP program help prepare you for your career? 

Through the MPP program, I learned the political and institutional components in which policies are implemented at all levels of government. By combining real-world experiences with academic theory and research, I gained the practical and analytical skills necessary to be successful in public service at the U.S. Senate.  

What was your favorite MPP class? Why? 

My favorite MPP class was the capstone course where I was able to culminate everything I had learned in the past two years to produce a policy analysis for a client. It was a unique opportunity to put into action the research and theory we had learned to make a meaningful contribution to a client.  

What advice do you have for current MPP students? 

Be open to expanding your policy interest areas during this time. While my focus area was disability, being surrounded by other peers with various backgrounds and expertise on policy issues, it was a unique opportunity to learn about multiple issues and how they intersect.