Sara Neumann Luciano joins Per Scholas as Senior Director, Enterprise Communications out of our Bronx campus. Most recently, Sara served as director of media and communications for U.S. Programs & Advocacy at Save the Children. She led the development and implementation of communications, media, and messaging strategies to elevate and promote the global nonprofit’s commitment to serving children across rural America. Sara advised and counseled C-Suite executives on alliance building, positioning, and thought leadership opportunities and served as one of the agency’s primary media and presentation trainers, coaching nearly 100 Save the Children colleagues. Sara was a sought-after spokesperson for media, internal, and external speaking engagements.
In 2018, Sara authored Growing Up Rural in America, which included the first-ever comparison of rural and urban child poverty rates by state as well as analysis about challenges faced by children in rural communities, driving more than 1,000 media placements. Sara served as an inaugural member of Save the Children’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council from 2018-2020.
Prior to joining Save the Children, Sara worked at three Washington, D.C.-based public relations firms, transitioning from agency life as Vice President at C.Fox Communications. Over the course of a decade, Sara counseled scores of clients in the nonprofit, foundation, corporate social responsibility, government, social venture and corporate sectors. Sara was instrumental in building and executing customized strategies that used communications to move her clients’ missions forward.
Among Sara’s most prized former clients is Per Scholas and, in collaboration with Ken Walker and Damien Howard, Sara helped to create and launch Diverse by Design in 2016. She served as strategic communications lead and executive producer for the first two events, held at Google’s New York City and Washington, D.C. headquarters. Notably, Sara led media relations efforts in support of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial dedication, working with high-profile journalists and outlets, securing quality coverage in Associated Press, The New York Times, Washington Post, CBS Sunday Morning, National Public Radio, NBC Nightly News, ABC Radio, Atlanta Journal Constitution, BET, Parade, The Mini Page and more in 2011.
Washington Women in Public Relations named Sara as a 2014 Emerging Leader Awards honoree, recognizing excellence in female PR professionals under 30. Sara graduated from The George Washington University with a degree in political communication and journalism. A proud Connecticut boomerang, Sara lives with her husband Paul and their multi-generational Italian family in their hometown of Trumbull.
