Sandra Cox ’62: Going Where the Day Takes Her
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Sandra Cox '62 |
Sandra Cox graduated from what is now the Moritz College of Law in 1962, where she notes that “my professors—Dean Strong and many others—provided me with the background that has permitted me to have a varied and interesting career.” Sandra moved to California shortly after graduation and started in private practice.
While in California, Sandra put her law degree to many uses. She worked for the State of California on the Public Utilities Commission and at the San Francisco Neighborhood Legal Assistance Foundation, where she provided city-wide domestic relations services. Next, Sandra moved on to the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., where she served in the newly-created position of regional counsel for the Southern California Region.
It was at Kaiser that she also became involved in alternative dispute resolution by being an advocate in labor arbitrations. She says, “I have been a long-time believer in alternative dispute resolution.” Upon retiring from Kaiser Foundation, Sandra still stays active in mediation by being a member of the Mediator Panel of Los Angeles Superior Court. She finds that serving as a mediator “keeps [her] attached to ‘all things legal.’”
Sandra also currently participates in a number of volunteer organizations. She is involved with the Red Cross as the chair of the Human Resources Committee and member of the local Executive Committee; the Pasadena-Altadena Chapter of service organization Links, Inc.; her church, Friendship Baptist, as a member of the Steering Team for Women’s Transformation Ministries; and as the chaplain and contract review chair for her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.- Foothill Alumnae Chapter.
Sandra believes that her legal knowledge has helped give her “the ability to think through issues as well as relate to large numbers of people.” She notes, “As a lawyer, you can often be of value to the nonprofit or community organizations with which you are affiliated.” She says, “My legal education also enhanced my confidence level….Once you survive the challenges of law school—you can survive virtually anything!”
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Sandra and Ronald |
Nowadays Sandra has the luxury to relax a little bit. She has retired from the Kaiser Foundation, and she and her husband, Ronald, have started Art Odyssey, an art gallery in Pasadena. She attributes this venture to her husband, who is “much more artistic” while also a “businessman at heart.” Yet they both “enjoy beautiful things” and felt that “The gallery [was] an opportunity to try to get art to more people.” They showcase artists from around the world because, Sandra says, they believe “through art, we are helping to bring people together.”
Throughout her various professional and volunteer positions, Sandra has stayed close to the law. “I’m still an attorney at heart,” she says.
Sandra can be reached at shcoxjd@sbcglobal.net or you can visit her gallery’s website.
