Originally from Costa Rica, Sandy was brought to California along with her seven siblings at the age of seven by her parents who were seeking a better future. After graduating from Verdugo Hills High School, Sandy attended Occidental College where she received a Bachelor of Arts in English and holds Master of Education degrees from both Stanford University and Mills College. Retired from a career as an English teacher and secondary school administrator, and with a history as a writer-poet, Sandy has come to realize she has also been a visual artist over a long period of time. Identifying as mestiza, with strong connections to her indigenous roots, as well as being an out lesbian since her early twenties, Sandy lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her wife, two cats and a Havenese puppy.