Sandra Thomson, who earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Daemen College, was honored with a 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award for Dedication to the College.
A native of Kenmore, Thomson began her teaching career at Lindbergh Elementary School. She later moved with her husband to Phoenix, where they currently reside.
Thomson continued her teaching career at a parochial school while earning a master’s degree in education from Arizona State University. After raising her family, she returned to school to earn a law degree from ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Her law career included positions with the Arizona State Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the largest circuit in the country.
Since retiring, Thomson has been active in the community serving on the Arizona Foster Care Review Board and the St. Thomas More Society Board of Directors. She also co-founded and volunteers at Maggie’s Place Legal Clinic, which serves homeless pregnant women.
In addition, Thomson has traveled frequently to Nepal to assist with efforts for the American-Nepal Medical Foundation, a program her husband founded to improve medical education standards in the country.
A longtime supporter of Daemen, Thomson has remained active with the college over the years.