Sara Betts

About

Sara Betts (she/her) is a first-year Master of Public Policy and Master of Public Health (MPP/MPH) dual-degree student at UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy and School of Public Health. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Economy, with a minor in Public Policy, from UC Berkeley. Her foremost policy interests include behavioral health and criminal legal reform, and she is particularly interested in how integrated policy approaches can improve outcomes for those directly impacted.

Before Goldman, Sara most recently served as an analyst in the Medi-Cal Behavioral Health-Policy Division at the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), where she played an active role in projects supporting the Family First Prevention Services Act. Prior, she was in the nonprofit sector, where she primarily conducted policy research and worked on developing legislative initiatives aimed at increasing voting access and civic engagement for incarcerated Californians.

Outside of class, Sara enjoys backpacking, hanging out with her pets, and baking.

Policy Interests

• Health Policy
• Drug Policy
• Criminal Justice
• Civil/Human Rights
• Racial Inequality
• Poverty & Inequality
• Social Welfare