Alessandra Wasserstrom

Sasha Wasserstrom is a transnational, queer, gender non-conforming person with a Puerto Rican, Jewish, and Greek background. They have arrived in Washington from the University of California - Santa Cruz where they have been pursuing their Ph.D. in Political Science as a Ph.D. Candidate. Their dissertation focuses on specific federal policies that historically contradict internationally validated scientific findings or guaranteed human rights and the relationship of these standing policies to contemporary, widespread denialism in public opinion. Through their 10+ years of professional experience, Sasha has become a skilled policy analyst, researcher, community organizer, educator, and communications professional. Recently, Sasha was an organizer in a statewide wildcat strike by UAW Local 2865 in Santa Cruz, to fight for a living wage among student workers across the UC System and won concessions throughout the state. As the Policy Director at WAISN, Sasha uses their skills to advance the agenda of WAISN and its constituents in the policy space while centering impacted communities to continue to adapt, learn and attend to the ongoing challenges they face.