Sandra Van Dam Anderson

Sandra Van Dam Anderson, PhD, MS, BSN, RN - Class of 1961

2024 Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee

Career Achievements 

Dr. Sandra Van Dam Anderson attended the two-room Forest Grove School in Hudsonville before attending the high school from 1958 to 1961. In high school, she was active in student government, played in the band, and belonged to the Bible Club, the Girls Athletic Association, and the Future Nurses Club. Outside of school, she worked at Zeeland Hospital (now Corewell Health Zeeland Hospital), first as a volunteer sunshine girl and then as a paid nurses’ aide. She credits her time as a cheerleader with helping to prepare for the world - to strive to win; to love competition; to lose graciously; to build teamwork and team spirit; and to cheer for the success of others.  

Dr. Van Dam Anderson kindly remembers Dave Kempker, her Social Studies teacher, who gave her a B- on her career paper about nursing.  She claims this put her on an A+ career track that led her to the World Health Organization (WHO) and for this, she will forever be grateful.

Dr. Van Dam Anderson received her RN diploma in 1966 from Chicago Wesley Memorial Hospital. She went on to earn her BSN and MS from the University of California, and her PhD from the University of Arizona where she studied Nursing and Anthropology. She has worked in many healthcare capacities around the world during her illustrious career and speaks four languages.

Of note, Dr. Van Dam Anderson worked at the WHO from 1986 to 2003. From 1989 until 1995, she was involved with the Global Program on AIDS in Geneva, Switzerland. As a Nurse Scientist, she assisted in the development of HIV/AIDS care across the continuum and conducted regional workshops to plan jointly with governmental and non-governmental organizations. She participated in many international and regional HIV/AIDS conferences, often as the keynote speaker or roundtable chair, and she served on the Scientific Program Committee/Clinical Science for the Vancouver International Conference on AIDS in 1996. She has published numerous articles on the topic of HIV/AIDS and has written or co-authored books on many nursing topics.

Today, Dr. Van Dam Anderson lives in Tucson, Arizona, where she is active in her church, as well as with migrant-related border organizations that advocate for social justice, kindness, and inclusivity.