Sandra Thurman

Sandra Thurman is known for her work on AIDS. She was appointed in 1997 as the third director of the Office of National AIDS Policy serving in Bill Clinton's administration.

Early life and education Thurman is an only child. Her father worked in clothing manufacturing and her mother, Marge Thurman, was the chair of the Georgia Democratic Party. Thurman earned her undergraduate degree from Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Career Thurman began her association with AID Atlanta by fundraising, and by 1989 was the organization's executive director. While in this position Thurman indicated her priority was to make AIDS a priority in the Clinton administration.

Thurman also worked on Bill Clinton's presidential campaigns in 1992 and 1996.

Thurman was a founding member of Cities Advocating Emergency AIDS Relief and has served on the board of directors of numerous AIDS organizations. She also served as Director of Advocacy Programs for the Task Force for Child Survival and Development at the Carter Center.

In 2008 Thurman accepted a position at Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.

Selected publications