Sarah brings more than 20 years of experience in storytelling and strategic communications to the Yale Schwarzman Center. Before joining Yale, she served as Director of Field Operations for Mayor Justin Elicker’s 2021 re-election campaign, where her strategic and organizational leadership helped secure his continued service to New Haven.
An Emmy® Award–winning producer, Sarah wrote, directed, edited, and promoted PBS’s Able Lives—a 15-part television series highlighting the careers of accomplished professionals who also happen to have disabilities. She served as head of marketing and communications for the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, earning national media coverage and helping elevate the city’s cultural landscape.
Sarah’s work has been recognized with the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Media Award and the Schar Family Jewish Digital Arts Award. She is also a recipient of the University of Hartford Anchor Award, the institution’s highest alumni honor.
A proud daughter of New Haven, Sarah is deeply engaged in civic and cultural life. She serves on the Board of Directors of the New Haven Democracy Fund, is outreach coordinator for JoY (Jews of Yale), and founded an arts grants initiative that has awarded more than $50,000 in micro grants to date. Her past service includes the New Haven Free Public Library Foundation (where she helped grow the annual fundraiser into a profitable event); the Downtown and Wooster Square Community Management Team (as Chair, helping guide complex community conversations around development); and WPKN Radio (where she hosted a program focused on careers in the arts).
Sarah graduated summa cum laude from the University of Hartford with a B.F.A. in Media Arts and a minor in Art History.
Sarah Ficca
she/her
Marketing Manager
Yale Schwarzman Center
PO Box 208299
New Haven, CT 06520