Sara Mc Tarnaghan
About Sara Mc Tarnaghan
Sara Mc Tarnaghan serves as a Senior Research Associate and Climate and Communities Practice Area Lead at the Urban Institute, where she has worked since 2021. With over a decade of experience in program design and mixed-methods research, she focuses on using research to enhance policy and program design for equitable communities.
Work at Urban Institute
Sara Mc Tarnaghan has been employed at the Urban Institute since 2021, serving as a Senior Research Associate and Climate and Communities Practice Area Lead. In this role, she focuses on integrating climate considerations into community development initiatives. Her work emphasizes the importance of research in shaping effective policies and programs that promote equity in communities.
Education and Expertise
Sara Mc Tarnaghan holds a Master of Science in Regional Planning and a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies from The University of Texas at Austin. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from The George Washington University. Additionally, she studied International Development at the International Center for Development Studies and at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Her educational background supports her expertise in program design, mixed-methods research, and partnership development.
Background
Sara Mc Tarnaghan has over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector, working in both the United States and Latin America. Her professional background includes a strong emphasis on leveraging research to improve policy and program design, particularly in the context of creating more equitable communities. She possesses bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish, along with conversational skills in Portuguese.
Research and Community Focus
Sara Mc Tarnaghan's work is characterized by a strong focus on using research to enhance policy and program design. She aims to address issues of equity within communities, particularly in relation to climate impacts. Her role at the Urban Institute allows her to contribute to initiatives that seek to improve the lives of individuals in diverse communities through informed decision-making.