Sandra studied Latin American history and culture at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México), and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chicano Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. She completed her Master of Fine Arts at California State University, Long Beach in 2004.
In 2013, Sandra was awarded the California Community Foundation, Mid-Career Artist Grant, Artist in Residence Grant, Department of Cultural Affairs and in 2012 she was awarded the Art Matters Grant. Sandra was the Project Research Fellow (2009-2011) Chicano Studies Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles as part of Pacific Standard Time: Art in Los Angeles 1945-1980, The Getty Foundation.
