There are some faculty and staff members at UCCS who go above and beyond by reaching out to students and supporting them on an individual level.
Sandy Ho, the associate dean and director of student affairs in the College of Education, advocates for students and gets involved with student unions to ensure that those who attend UCCS feel welcomed and supported.
Her dedication to the students on the UCCS campus and her array of leadership abilities led to Ho being selected as one of the honorees for the 2021 Colorado Springs Business Journal Women of Influence Award.
The CSBJ Women of Influence Award is given to women who have worked hard for change and who have had a large impact on those around them and the Colorado Springs community as a whole.
Ho was born and raised in South Korea. Her father was a member of the U.S. Army, and her family moved often for military reasons.
“I went to Harrison High School here in town and graduated from there. I moved here in 1994, so I was still in high school then. I finished out high school here and got my associate’s degree from Pike’s Peak Community College,” Ho said.
After her time at PPCC, Ho received a bachelor’s in communication, a master’s in leadership and a doctorate in educational leadership, research and policy — all from UCCS.
“My passion is in student affairs and with diversity, equity and inclusion work. That’s my realm that I kind of stick to,” she said.
Ho became interested in Student Affairs when her mentor had told her that she was good at working with students and could make a job out of it.
Ho was an instructor at UCCS when she first taught GPS classes in 2010. Since then, she has become a staff member, working in different areas where she can interact with students.
“I’ve been a staff member since 2015, so for 5 years I served as the director for the Excel Languages Center. Now I’m over as the assistant dean and director of student affairs for the College of Education,” she said.
Ho makes it her goal to work to support students in several organizations on campus.
She is a faculty advisor for the Women’s Student Association, a mentor for the Asian Pacific Islander Student Union, a supporter of the Black Student Union and a supporter of MOSAIC.
“Just my involvement, I like to know about community things and support community initiatives to help underserved and minoritized groups and communities. So, I just do that. That’s what I love to do,” she said.
Ho wants to continue working to recognize students and help them reach their goals. “A lesson that I always hold dear is that it’s all about the students,” she said.
