Sophia Sackleh

Manager of Food Policy

Sophia Sackleh is the Manager of Food Policy at the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA), where she advances the association’s advocacy on behalf of the U.S. oilseed processing industry. She leads NOPA’s food policy portfolio and supports the association’s growing work on Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) priorities at the federal and state levels. Sophia also leads NOPA’s internship program, recruiting and mentoring the next generation of professionals in agriculture and food policy.

Sophia began her career as a residential interior designer, guiding clients from concept to completion. The work meant understanding what people needed, balancing competing priorities and budgets, sourcing materials through complex supplier networks, and explaining technical decisions in plain terms. It also gave her an early interest in where materials come from and how they are produced, which led her to graduate study in sustainability. She also worked with The Earth Foundation on climate and sustainability education and outreach, building her skill at translating complex environmental topics for broad audiences.

During her graduate studies, Sophia focused on vegetable oil and agricultural commodity supply chains. She co-authored an article in Supply Chain Management Review on the global palm oil value chain, examining how certification programs, government policy, and trade restrictions affect sustainability and equity from farm to finished product. She also led a capstone project for Blommer Chocolate Company, the largest cocoa processor and ingredient chocolate supplier in North America. The project included education on emerging deforestation policies and KPIs for Blommer’s sustainability programs. Together, her experience in client service, commodity supply chains, and policy informs how she works with NOPA members and stakeholders today.

Sophia holds a Master of Science in Environment & Sustainability Management from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Science from Texas Christian University.