Sara Peña

Director, New Jersey Department of State/Center for Hispanic Policy Research & Development

Sara Peña, was born, raised, and educated in Newark, New Jersey. Her mother was born in Ecuador and her father in Dominican Republic. She currently serves as the Director in the New Jersey Department of State’s Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development under Governor Phil Murphy’s administration. Ms. Peña has over two decades of initiating and delivering sustained results across a wide range of industries including healthcare and government.

She received her bachelor’s degree in Management from Kean University and her master’s degree in Public Administration from Rutgers University in Newark. Sara is a proud mother to Anthony, who inspired her to start her non-profit, Boys to Leaders Foundation in 2013.