Sandra Smith has been employed by the Robeson County Health Department for the past 25 years. She began working there at the age of 23 as a Front Desk Clerk and worked her way up to a Clerical Supervisor. The Health Department became the lead agency for the Dogwood HIV Consortium in 1995. For the past 17 years, Ms. Smith has served as the Director of this nine county region which is now known as the Dogwood Healthcare Network. She has been responsible for all of the duties required in managing the Ryan White Part B and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS funds including: grant writing, budgeting, contracting, policy development, quality management, needs assessment and coordination of services in the region. She received her Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and completed the Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management thru Duke University. She resides in Lumberton, North Carolina with her 23 year old daughter and her 20 year old son.