Sarah Beamer, an attorney with 10 years of government and political experience that included serving as executive director of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, has joined the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) as an assistant executive director. She is the newest member of the UHPA leadership team, reporting to Christian Fern, UHPA’s executive director. 

Debi Hartmann, UHPA associate executive director, who plans to retire in mid-2023, is serving as Beamer’s mentor and advisor to ensure a smooth transition for the union that represents more than 3,000 UH faculty members. 

“We’re glad to welcome Sarah to our UHPA team to support our growing number of members across all 10 University of Hawai‘i campuses statewide,” Fern said. “She brings valuable qualities to UHPA — a passion for advocacy, commitment to supporting Hawaii families, meticulous attention to detail, and experience with developing and managing complex programs.”

Prior to joining UHPA, Beamer had been with the state’s Hawaii Public Housing Authority since 2016, serving in various roles, including compliance and evaluation specialist, acting Section 8 branch chief, and housing planner. She collaborated with branch chiefs, consultants, and the state’s Office of the Attorney General to review and amend administrative rules, and provided research, analysis, and interpretation of federal, state, and county laws.

Beamer also served in the legislature from 2014 to 2016, as a bills research analyst for the Senate Committees on Judiciary and Labor, Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, and Transportation and Labor, and as a deputy bills chief for the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.

She also held a number of positions in the Democratic Party of Hawaii, including that of compliance director and executive director, and was responsible for developing and managing the Democratic State Biennial Convention from 2010 to 2014.

Beamer, a downtown Honolulu resident, received a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice and a bachelor of arts degree in history with minors in international studies and political science, both from Loyola University Chicago; and earned a law degree from the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law.