Meet Our New Alumni President

Swearing in of Sandra Thomas as President of the Alumni
Association and member of the SUU Board of Trustees

On August 22, 2014, Sandra Lord Thomas ('93) became president of the Southern Utah University Alumni Association and was sworn in as a new member of the SUU Board of Trustees. She replaces Mark Russell ('74) who provided eight years of tremendous service to SUU and the Alumni Association.

Sandra holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Leadership with a cognate in Public Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Her Masters in Education and Bachelors Degree in Communications are both from Southern Utah University.

Currently, Thomas is a senior facilitator for Strategic Planning Seminars. As such,
she evaluates all types of organizations and identifies primary strategic planning
processes to advance organizational directions, optimize future potentials, and
improve organizational relationships and interpersonal interactions with
stakeholders. As well, Thomas manages a small investment organization which
capitalizes on current trends in areas such as real estate, venture capitalism, and
business acquisition.

Thomas has been an instructor of the Department of Educational Leadership at
Northern Arizona University and continues to be an active member of the
Association for the Study of Higher Education, American Association for Higher
Education, and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Her
research interests include public policy and practice, organizational theory and
leadership, strategic planning and organization, governing boards and
presidencies, and educational recruitment, retention and persistent patterns.

Before moving to Mohave County almost fifteen years ago, Thomas served as
Southern Utah University’s Director and Associate Director of School Relations for
over 7 years. During that time she was responsible for enrollment management
processes including recruitment, marketing, and public relations. She directed
and founded the Admissions Adviser Program, the Sanctuary Scholarship
Competition, Quest Leadership Seminars, and the Spring Leadership Competition.
Thomas also served as the Director of the Utah Governor’s Honors Academy at
SUU. She worked closely with former Governor Michael O. Leavitt and organized
and facilitated the overall planning and fundraising of the academy.

In her personal world, Thomas is an avid photographer, writer, and reader. She
loves to spend time with her family and tries to live up to a recent comment made
by her teenage son, “Mom, you rock!”