Sandra O’Neal Dickerson was born in McComb, Mississippi on September 1, 1942. Dickerson spent much of her childhood in Alabama moving with her family to Tuskegee, Montgomery, and eventually Birmingham. Dickerson attended the Dillard University in New Orleans where she graduated in September 1963 with a dual degree in Political Science and History. Shortly after graduation, Dickerson accepted a position at Marshall Space Flight Center as an administrative assistant in the Propulsion and Vehicle Engineering Laboratory. Dickerson later completed a Master’s of Science degree in Personnel Administration at Alabama A&M University.
During her career, Dickerson rose through the ranks holding various positions of increasing authority including chief of the Management Support Office under the assistant director for Management in the Science and Engineering Directorate and Deputy Director of Employee and Organizational Development, where she retired after thirty-nine years of service. Dickerson’s career was one dedicated to service both at Marshall and the surrounding community serving on the Center’s Federal Women’s Advisory Board, Marshall Management Association, secretary of the board for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of North Alabama, and the committee for Marshall Black History Month programs. Dickerson also received several awards over her career including the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal and the Silver Snoopy Award.
In this photo taken on November 27, 1972, Dickerson works on budget and program planning as Program Control Clerk in the Propulsion and Vehicle Engineering Laboratory.
Image credit: NASA