Sarah Ducich is vice president for public policy for Sallie Mae. She joined Sallie Mae in August 1998 and is responsible for the development and advancement of the company’s policy goals regarding the federal student-loan programs, with a particular emphasis on the effect of federal budget policy on the such programs. Prior to joining Sallie Mae, Ms. Ducich consulted on federal budget policy for several national firms, was deputy budget director with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 1990–93, was a senior staff member of the Senate Budget Committee, from 1987–90, and was a budget examiner with the Office of Management and Budget from 1984–87.