By Amarachi Okafor
The Master of Public Management program brings CMU’s world-class training in data, technology, and management to professionals.
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Sackey’s work often focuses on ensuring that policies for survivors are grounded in data that accurately reflects the population’s needs. By combining data analysis with community-level feedback, Sackey helps state governments make these systems more accessible, especially for underserved and unserved populations.
For a project with the New York State Office of Victims Services, her team engaged directly with victims and service providers, using questionnaires, surveys, and focus group discussions to develop recommendations. She described the office as a collaborative and supportive partner throughout the process. These findings were then translated into actionable recommendations to help inform state decision-making.
"There’s power in listening, in thinking, and in responding," she said.
Ultimately, Sackey’s work helps improve victim services and provide community-based support, so more survivors can find and utilize the support they’re entitled to.
Heinz College provided Sackey with a strong policy foundation that continues to inform her work today. She was intentional in selecting her coursework, seeking out classes taught by professors such as Silvia Borzutzky, David Lassman and Denise Rousseau. These courses equipped her with the policy and organizational tools needed to navigate the complexities of legislative policy.
“I learned how to analyze policy and integrate data while keeping the human perspective at the center,” Sackey said. “When working with both qualitative and quantitative data, it’s essential to communicate insights clearly and effectively.”
Her experience at Heinz College also gave her the opportunity to critically observe and analyze how policies impact people — both in their intended outcomes and in unforeseen ways. “I’ve seen what happens when policies are written, and I’ve also seen what happens when they’re implemented,” she said. “That distinction plays a significant role in understanding their real-world effects.”
Before graduate school, Sackey worked on various political campaigns across the country. Her decision to attend Heinz College was influenced by a former candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives she worked for in Pennsylvania. He spoke highly of his own education at Carnegie Mellon University.
"I was like, 'Oh if that’s the future of what I could be at the age of 27, let me go to the same school,'" Sackey said.
"Prior to the class and role, I didn’t think much about negotiation and if I did, it was mainly in the context of salary,” she said. "But negotiation goes beyond that. It’s about having the flexibility to do the work that you want to do. We're negotiating on a daily basis especially with policy."
Sackey emphasized that effective communication is the most important skill for anyone entering the justice or policy sectors. In her view, success in policy depends on the ability to articulate ideas clearly, navigate competing priorities, and translate complex data into actionable understanding.
Current students should cultivate and lean on the relationships they build while in school, she said.
"I still very much lean on my CMU network for support," she said. "Some of the smartest people I know came from CMU, and I'm just so grateful that they've continued to be part of both my professional network and my circle of friends.