Sasha Nicholas

Contact

Email:

sashanic@upenn.edu

Biography

Sasha S. Nicholas is the Domestic Policy Programs Coordinator at Penn Washington. Previously, she worked on AI-focused initiatives for small businesses and led early childhood education programs as Manager of Policy and Programs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. In that role, she oversaw a portfolio connecting child care to broader national issues—including housing, military family readiness, and even professional sports. She also helped design and execute the historic National Child Care Innovation Summit in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Commerce, advancing national efforts to address child-care challenges and promote innovative solutions.

Nicholas earned her Master of Public Management from Johns Hopkins University and holds a Bachelor of History with a minor in Leadership and Social Change from Virginia Tech. She also participated in Stanford University’s Human-Centered AI for Social Impact’s Fall 2025 Social Sector Cohort. Earlier in her career, she worked with ICF International as a government contractor supporting the Federal Communications Commission’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program, ensuring hospitals received accurate telehealth funding. She also interned in the Office of Administration at the White House.

Outside of work, Nicholas served as an Election Officer during the 2024 presidential election in Arlington, Virginia, and volunteered with Special Olympics DC. Nicholas also enjoys traveling, winning in Mario Kart, and spending time with her husband, Matthew, and their two cats, Olly and Lilly.