Sandy Pappas
USA- Sandra Papas: A Political Trailblazer
- Early Life and Education
- Political Career
- Teaching and Advocacy
- Personal Life
Sandra Papas: A Political Trailblazer
Sandra Papas is an American politician and Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) member who has served in the Minnesota Senate since 1991. She also served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1985 to 1991.
Early Life and Education
Papas was born into a Greek American family and is the granddaughter of Vasillios Panagopoulos, a Greek immigrant who worked in Minnesota's iron ore mines and later ventured into the restaurant business and politics. Papas attended the University of Minnesota from 1967 to 1969 and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from Metropolitan State University in 1986. She also holds a Master's in Public Administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Political Career
Papas has held numerous positions, including Treasurer of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association (2007-2009), Vice President of the Women's Legislators Lobby, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for World Without Genocide, and Co-Founder and Chair of Forward Global Women. She ran for Mayor of Saint Paul in 1997.
In 2018, Papas and other legislators introduced a resolution in the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives supporting religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The resolution urged the Turkish government to respect the religious rights of the country's Greek Orthodox minority.
Teaching and Advocacy
Alongside her political career, Papas taught political science at Metropolitan State University for 20 years. She has been an active advocate for various causes, including women's rights, education, and international humanitarianism.
Personal Life
Papas is married to Neil Gosman and has three daughters who reside in Tzfat, Israel.
