Sarah Standiford ’97 lives in South Portland Maine and works as the State Campaigns Director for Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund…living the nomadic work lifestyle but grateful to be rooted in Maine with her husband of 17 years, Jeff Fetterer.

At PPFA, she manages the team of campaign strategists who provide support for organizing, policy, and political programs of Planned Parenthood affiliates and advocacy organizations across the country. She also lends tactical support and management to statewide electoral campaigns and legislative initiatives to promote sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice. From 2003-2011 Sarah served as Executive Director of the Maine Women’s Lobby and the Maine Women’s Policy Center, organizations that promote policies to improve the lives of women and girls.

Sarah continues to maintain that anthropology is a perfect discipline for community organizing, advocacy, and political work. When asked by friends and relatives if she ever uses her degree her answer is: Every day. If politics is about power …who has it, who wants it, and how to get it — then anthropology is the road map for determining, in any given community,what structures are in place to preserve it. For those committed to human rights and justice, understanding the relations of power and how people without it can work together to gain power and change the world, this road map is essential.

Plus, state legislatures offer excellent opportunities for enthographic research.

Sarah is happy to chat with undergrads or any one wanting to navigate professional opportunities in the nonprofit sector. sarah.e.standiford@gmail.com

 

Sarah Standiford

Class of 1997