Sandra Cauffman is an Empowered Latina

Sandra Cauffman is an empowered Latina who, through her research and professional development, has raised the profile of women.

The Costa Rican Sandra Cauffman was born on May 10, 1962, in San Jose, Costa Rica. She is a Costa Rican specialist in Electrical Engineering and Physics, which has enabled her to work in various roles as a project manager at NASA.

Her profile has been highlighted by UN Women and is considered a positive role model for young women and girls.

Sandra Cauffman is an empowered Latina who has worked on various NASA missions, including serving as the deputy director of the Mars Atmospheric and Volatile Evolution Mission project.

She later worked as the deputy director of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Program, known as GOES-R.

Currently, she works as the deputy director of the Earth Sciences Division at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Her work involves managing missions for technology development, applied science, research, mission execution, and operations.

Sandra Cauffman is an empowered Latina: Leader

Sandra Cauffman is an empowered Latina who grew up in a humble family, where she had to study and work at the same time.

Cauffman decided to help other Costa Rican women pursuing higher education to get closer to the sciences by visiting NASA and learning more about the processes carried out there related to their careers.

She grew up in a household raised by her mother, in very limited circumstances in Hatillo, and is the daughter of María Jerónima “Mary Alba” Rojas Montero.

Due to her family’s financial situation, she had to start working at a young age to support her family. Her mother took it upon herself to educate her and provide opportunities for her to study.

Upon graduating with good grades, she decided to enroll at the University of Costa Rica.

However, when she wanted to enter this institution, the career counselor told her that she couldn’t study Electrical Engineering because “engineering for women is Industrial Engineering,” they said.

As a result, Cauffman enrolled in Industrial Engineering and completed seven semesters, but her interest still lay in another field.

Sandra’s mother had married the American Charles Alba in 1976 when Sandra was 14 years old, and he became her adoptive father. After this event, she legally took the name Sandra Alba Rojas.

When she was 21 years old, the Cauffman family moved to the United States for economic, personal, and educational opportunities.

In the United States, she finally pursued the career she truly desired to study. Throughout her education, Cauffman worked to pay for her studies.

In March 2023, the University of Costa Rica awarded her an honorary doctorate for her exemplary determination and perseverance.

Sandra Cauffman is an empowered Latina.

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