Sara Howard, JD

Sara Howard is a lifelong resident of Omaha, Nebraska. She received her Juris Doctor from Loyola University of Chicago, with specialty certificates in Child and Family Law and Tax Law. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in History from Smith College in Massachusetts. Sara has also participated in several leadership programs including Leadership Nebraska, the Toll Fellowship through the Council of State Governments and the Great Plains Leadership Institute.

Sara currently serves as a Policy Advisor for First Five Nebraska, a statewide nonprofit focused on state level policies supporting children and families during their first five years. At First Five Nebraska she focuses on maternal and infant health policy. Prior to her tenure at First Five, Sara served 8 years as a Senator in the Nebraska Legislature representing District 9 in Midtown Omaha. During her tenure in the legislature she served as Chairperson of the Health and Human Services Committee, the youngest woman elected by her peers to this post, and was the first daughter in the history of Nebraska to replace her mother as a Senator. Her policy work included health care, opioid addiction prevention, juvenile justice, child welfare and occupational licensure. Before her service in the Unicameral, Sara served as Director of Development for OneWorld Community Health Centers and as Staff Attorney for the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition (now Everthrive). In addition to her position at First Five Nebraska, Sara also serves in an elected capacity on the board of the Omaha Public Power District.

Sara lives in Omaha with her husband Doug Schroder and their three Murray, Duke and Sachi. Sara is an avid reader, enjoys used bookstores, coffee, travel and Korean dramas.