Ak-Chin Indian Community member Sandra Shade earns Doctoral Degree

Written by

This past spring, Ak-Chin Indian Community member Sandra Shade received her doctoral degree – and she’s the first person to do so in the Community. Congratulations to Dr. Shade!

Dr. Shade started her education at Casa Grande Union High School and attended Mesa Community College, earning an associate degree in Secretarial Studies. She earned both a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University (ASU). Shade later earned a second master’s degree, this time in higher education, and completed the ASU Certified Public Manager’s program in June. These accolades and accomplishments led up to Dr. Shade, earning her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Grand Canyon University this spring.

Dr. Sandra Shade with Ak-Chin Chairman Robert Miguel, Council members Delia Carlyle and Lisa Garcia, and Education adviser Pamela Velasquez during the blanket presentation. Photo courtesy of the Ak-Chin O’odham Runner Newspaper

Earlier in her career, Dr. Shade worked for the Gila River Indian Community as a Comprehensive Planner, according to an article in the Ak-Chin O’odham Runner newspaper. She eventually became the tribe’s first Department of Transportation director. She held this position for eight years before working for the Ak-Chin Indian Community. Dr. Shade currently serves as Director of Planning and Development for the Ak-Chin Indian Community. She also holds a position on the Arizona Indian Gaming Association. This organization advocates, educates, partners, and promotes Tribal Gaming to benefit the Tribes of Arizona.

Dr. Shade served as the keynote speaker at The Ak-Chin Higher Education/GED Graduation banquet. According to the article in the Ak-Chin O’odham Runner, Shade always knew education would be valuable. She’s the daughter and niece of teachers, and education was always a priority. During her address, Dr. Shade encouraged others to continue their education. “Education is powerful,” she said during the event. “It helps you focus on life … it helps you develop skills that you will use throughout your life.” She then recognized her mother Lillian and Aunt Jeannie, who she says were her role models.

As a traditional gift of recognition, Ak-Chin Indian Community Council members Delia Carlyle and Lisa Garcia, presented Dr. Shade with a beautiful Pendleton blanket. The Pendleton Blanket represents American tribes’ beliefs and traditions since 1909 and it is an honor to receive one.

Congratulations to Dr. Sandra Shade for this honor — the first member of the Ak-Chin Indian Community to earn a doctoral degree!

Carolyn Sostrom

Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.