Sandra Dafiaghor is the Director of OAI Chicago Southland. She holds a PhD in Educational Leadership from Indiana State University and has over 18 years of experience in designing and implementing family empowerment and workforce development programs.
As the Director of the Chicago Southland operations, Sandra is responsible for oversight and implementation of OAI’s workforce training programs focusing on Manufacturing, Healthcare and Technology sectors. She facilitates overall direction of training programs and maintains all OAI project partners. In previous roles, Sandra designed and implemented Welfare to Work programs providing industry recognized certification training that assisted over 3000 individuals to be lifted out of poverty and set on the path to self-sufficiency. She designed and implemented youth education and career development programs that served over 5500 students in 15 school districts across three States.
She is driven by the belief that given the right resources, supportive environment and access to quality education and training, every individual can harness their potential and achieve the American dream.
Sandra Dafiaghor is a member of the Chicagoland Workforce Leadership Academy, Class of 2019, one of several Workforce Leadership Academies in localities across North America.
The Workforce Leadership Academies are part of the Economic Opportunity Fellows Network, a network of leadership and fellowship programs run by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program. Within this Network, EOP connects national and local leaders from across sectors — nonprofit, government, business, philanthropy, academia, and more — to advance policies and practices with the potential to help low- and moderate-income Americans thrive in today’s economy. Learn more at as.pn/eofn.