Sandra Clark Bolivar
President, Staff Retirement Association
bolivar@usc.edu
(213)740-8921
Sandra Clark Bolivar retired from the University of Southern California Ostrow School of Dentistry after having served in various capacities there since 1975 – ending as Assistant Dean of Admissions, Diversity and Student Affairs.
In this later capacity, Sandi was responsible for the recruitment and selection of students for
all programs including the doctoral dental program, the advanced standing program for
international dentists, two dental hygiene programs and 9 advanced and specialty programs.
Her responsibilities further included oversight of the school’s financial aid operation which
annually administered more than ten million dollars in institutional scholarship and loan funds.
In addition, Sandi was responsible for management of all of the school’s student centered
programming including new student orientation activities and commencement. She directed
and led the school’s diversity initiative and served as the founding Chair of its Diversity
Council.
Sandi is the former chair of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Sections on
Admissions and on Financial Aid. She is also the former chairman of the AADSAS (American
Association of Dental Schools Application Service) Task Force which has operational oversight
of the national dental application process. In addition, Sandi has served as an appointed
member of the of the American Dental Association (ADA) Committee on Minority Recruitment
and Retention as well as an appointed member of the American Dental Association Committee
F. In addition, Sandi is the former Chair of the ADEA Minority Affairs Section; and Co‐ Director
of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and California Endowment joint funded California
Pipeline Program with responsibility for the state‐wide recruitment initiative.
Other former and current affiliations include the National Association of Minority Medical
Educators and an elected member of the USC Staff Assembly and the USC Staff Club.
In retirement, Sandi remains active with a number of groups and organizations. She is a
member of USC Town and Gown; and serves as a member of the USC Athletic Board of
Councilors. She was elected President of the USC Staff Retirement Association (SRA) and she is
the current Chair of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation National Advisory Committee for its
Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP). In addition, Sandi remains a frequent
presenter on the topic of admissions, recruitment and diversity at many state and national
gatherings.
Ms. Bolivar is a native of Gadsden, Alabama and holds a B.A. degree in English and Education
from Spelman College and the Juris Doctorate from the University of West Los Angeles School
of Law. Ms. Bolivar is a resident of Marina del Rey, California.