Third and State

Sharon Ward is the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC). Sharon received her B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany, and pursued an M.S. in Political Science with a concentration in statistics and methodology at the Rockefeller Institute of Public Policy. Sharon has worked as an advocate on behalf of children, consumers, and the environment for more than 20 years. She was the Director for Advocacy and Child Care Policy for Public Citizens for Children and Youth and has worked as a community organizer and issue advocate for the New York Public Interest Research Group and Citizen Action of New York. In 1989, she was elected with a slate of reform candidates to the Albany City Council, where she served for eight years, and chaired the Finance and Environmental Committees. At PBPC, Sharon plays a vital role in educating policymakers, community groups, and the public on state budget and tax policies. She has authored numerous reports and policy briefs, regularly delivers testimony on policy matters to legislative committees, and is often sought out by reporters as an expert on state policy matters. Sharon also has worked with various coalitions to advocate for health care and education reforms, to support a fair and equitable tax system, and to advance policies to reduce poverty.