Weekly Newsletter

Rotary Club of Vandenberg Village

NIKI SANDOVAL, PH.D.

Our speaker on Friday was Niki Sandoval PhD. In June 2007 at UCSB she became Dr. Nicolasa I. Sandoval, the first Chumash in tribal history to earn a doctorate degree.

Her life shatters the stereotype of indolent Native Americans with no interest in education. At key intersections in her academic career, the self-described “museum junkie” seized the initiative to take advantage of opportunities.

For 18 years, Sandoval has dedicated her life to increasing access to cultural and educational opportunities. As Education Director for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, she guides their investment in education. She is the former Consulting Manager for the Nonprofit Support Center where she also served as a trainer and facilitator for their professional development programs. A lecturer in the Education department at UCSB, Niki is a frequent speaker and writer on the topics of culture and education. Her museum career began at the J. Paul Getty Museum of Art and continued to the Smithsonian Institution.

Sandoval is on the leadership team for the Lompoc Family YMCA’s Healthier Communities initiative. She is a Santa Barbara Foundation Katherine Harvey Fellow (Class of 2008-2009) and a graduate of
Leadership Lompoc Valley (Class of 2008). A 1988 graduate of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, Sandoval grew up on the Santa Ynez Indian Reservation. She holds a Ph.D. in Education from UC Santa Barbara, M.A. in Museum Studies from the George Washington University, and B.A. in Public Relations from Pepperdine University. She resides in Lompoc, California with her husband, John Gustafsson, and their beloved dogs, Roy and Stella.

Shaved Head!?!

Dana Manchester has a goal of 8 new members this year! As an incentive for us to continue inviting guests to attend the meetings and join our wonderful group; he has promised to shave his head if we get 8 new members. (Of course our Fine Master Don Rowland has remarked that there won't be much difference!) Our Current Governor Deepa Willingham has a goal of increased membership throughout our District. (Though I doubt we will get her to shave her head). Let's see if we can "Help" Dana look like the latest Star Trek Captain!

Elevator Speech

Remember to develop and practice your 30 second "elevator Speech" about Rotary. The plan is to have Deepa be able to call on three of us during the meeting where we will stand up and deliver out speech. So, Practice, Practice, Practice