Sharon “Sadie” Sanford is an ordinary woman connected to and extraordinary God!

After a routine mammogram, in October of 2017, Sadie was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her unexpected diagnosis and healing journey inspired her to start the Sadie Strong Project, which promotes the early detection of breast cancer, encourages healthy lifestyles and offers a variety of programs and services that provide awareness, information, support and empowerment to women affected by breast cancer. During her healing, Sadie adopted the mantra “You have been assigned this mountain to show others that it can be moved” and she has been moving mountains ever since.

With over 26 years of experience in higher education, Sadie is a college administrator by trade, but her passion is inspiring, mentoring and pouring into the lives of others. While she is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions including the NACWAA Administrator of the Year and CAO Education Task Force Member of the Year, her greatest accomplishment and joy is being a wife and mother to three amazing sons, Marvin II, Joseph and Cody.

Sadie is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and has held many leadership positions including Chairperson of the Fundraising Committee and the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy, Co-Chair of Jabberwock, member of the regional collegiate re-activation team, Corresponding Secretary and Chaplain.