Regent Sandra Timmons

Sandra Timmons is a longtime supporter of UC San Diego and a tireless advocate for education. She has worked as a producer, writer and video consultant for both corporate and educational clients before dedicating her time to community service.

As a member of the KPBS-TV staff, she produced public affairs programs and was a location director for the Nightly Business Report. With the California State University office of the Chancellor, she created dissemination programs for the National Science Foundation aimed at increasing participation of minorities and women in math and science; and increasing graduation rates of minority and economically challenged students.

Along with her husband, Richard Sandstrom ’72, PhD ’79, she is a generous philanthropist, creating endowments to perpetually fund the Richard L. Sandstrom Graduate Fellowship in Engineering, and the Timmstrom Scholars, a part of the Chancellor’s Associates scholarship fund.

Ms. Timmons is a dedicated volunteer in the community, having served on several committees and leadership boards for organizations such as San Diego Social Venture Partners, the Education Synergy Alliance, inewsource, the San Diego Children’s Choir and KPBS. At UC San Diego, she is a member of the UC San Diego Foundation Board and has served as chair and trustee of the Foundation’s Stewardship Committee. She also serves on the Campaign for UC San Diego Cabinet, and until recently was a member and chair of the Chancellor’s Associate Council.

Her longstanding commitment to service shows how she is a true believer in education and its power to change lives. As a first-generation college student and an undergraduate scholarship recipient herself, she knows firsthand the impact that can be made by contributing to student support and success.

Ms. Timmons served as the President of the Alumni Associations of the University of California (AAUC) from 2022-23.  She served as Alumni Regent for one year commencing July 1, 2022, and as an Alumni Regent-designate from 2021-22.