Sarah Stoesz is president and CEO
of Planned Parenthood
Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, one of the largest Planned
Parenthood affiliates in the United
States. Over her eight year tenure, Stoesz
has focused on expanding access to reproductive health care and education, and
built a strong grassroots-based advocacy effort that has led to numerous
victories. Most notably, she led the twice-won electoral victory in South Dakota over two
attempts to ban abortion. In so doing, she has forcefully advocated for a shift
in the divisive national debate over abortion, from extremist positioning
toward a more mutually acceptable and problem-solving middle ground. Before
joining Planned Parenthood, Stoesz held numerous positions in politics and
public policy development, including four years with US Senator Paul Wellstone,
as well as spending six years as an executive with Allina Health System.  She has also served on numerous community
boards, and holds a Master of Arts in Public Affairs from the Humphrey
Institute at the University
of Minnesota.