In a recent announcement made by Governor Greg Abbott, Senior Advisor and Budget Director, Sarah Hicks will be departing her role within the Office of the Governor, ending a long tenure of state service that spans more than two decades. Hicks, who has been a stalwart figure in the governor's office since October 2017, played a key part in the passage of significant policies across Texas.
During her time as Budget Director and later as Director of Budget and Policy, Hicks has been at the helm of shaping state financial strategies – her work was especially notable during the Hurricane Harvey recovery, as well as in the realms of school finance reform, property taxation, and border security policy. According to the Office of the Governor, Governor Abbott expressed his gratitude towards Hicks, "Sarah Hicks has been an invaluable, trusted advisor and provided substantial experience and knowledge to my office and to Texas," he said. "Her unwavering dedication to serving her fellow Texans has been nothing short of incredible. Sarah’s leadership and guidance helped my team pass critical initiatives during three legislative sessions and multiple special sessions. I am confident that Sarah will bring the same level of commitment and excellence in her next endeavor."
Prior to her role in the governor’s office, Hicks accumulated an extensive background in public service. This includes notable positions such as Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of State Relations at the Texas A&M University System, along with serving as Committee Director of the Texas Senate Committee on Finance for former State Senators Tommy Williams and Steve Ogden.
Hicks' educational credentials are deeply rooted in Texas as well; she holds both a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Public Service Administration from Texas A&M University. With her departure, Gov. Abbott's office loses a significant piece of its policymaking apparatus, as they navigate the challenges ahead without Hicks's seasoned hand steering the budgetary ship.
