Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra “Sandee” Bonura.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Sandra. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I first discovered the joy of research after reading antique love letters that had never seen the light of day for more than a century. They had been retrieved from a steamer trunk found in a forgotten California attic. The contents were sent to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography as a donation. The trunk was crammed with century-old photographs, rare artifacts, and letters about life, love, politics, and education in nineteenth-century Hawai‘i. The letters were from Carrie Winter, a teacher who journeyed to Honolulu to teach in a boarding school for a girl during the days of the Hawaiian Monarchy. Each letter chronicling her three years had been preserved in its original postmarked envelope. They were systematically transcribed, edited, researched, and published (hooray – I was on my way!) in An American Girl in the Hawaiian Islands: Letters of Carrie Prudence Winter, 1890–1893. I got a fever and began looking for another book. As my research continued, the name “Ida May Pope” kept appearing in multiple collections of the era. I soon found myself intrigued by this woman, who inspired and motivated a multitude of Hawaiian girls but had been historically ignored. My second book got published! Light in the Queen’s Garden chronicles the life of Ida Pope, a transformational type of leader in any era, Ida’s personal impressions of King Kalākaua and Queen Lili‘uokalani, her interactions with members of the American group who overthrew the monarchy, and her account of the days leading up to the revolution and long after give an insider’s perspective on crucial events in Hawaiian history. The first run of books by the University of Hawaii Press Publishers sold out in six weeks!
Currently, I am hot and heavy into the biography of John D. Spreckels, the builder of “modern” San Diego at the turn of the 20th century. Hawaiian Sugar money built both San Diego and Coronado and this is an exciting story! As a native San Diegan, I am enthralled at our rich history!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Never go into ANYTHING for the money! Go into it for the JOY!
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a storyteller. I have four published works based on primary source materials from the 19th century. It’s important to tell the stories of people from bygone days and share their faith, their courage and their hardships. I have been a teacher, a school counselor, and a college professor for thirty years and still enjoy teaching whether it is to students or history lovers.
I found this in a diary from a lady named Lilla Appleton written in 189″, “We can fight our own battles better for knowing better the lives and ideals of those from whom we are descended. It links us to great accomplishments of the past, and makes us feel as if we also should do great deeds.”
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
In higher education, a doctorate was a must for me to advance in my profession I had two school-aged children at the time, little money, and was also teaching part-time. HOW COULD I POSSIBLY DO IT? But, HOW COULD I POSSIBLE NOT? When my mind was made up, my college selected (out of state), I moved with lightning speed before ANYONE could talk me out of it. Many family members shook their heads as if to say, “no way”, but I imagined them as nods of encouragement instead.
I became Dr. Sandra Bonura in 2003 and to this date, it’s my dearest accomplishment. Nothing will ever top it!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://sandrabonura.com
- Email: sbonura@apu.edu
- Facebook: summitridgecourses.com
Image Credit:
Sandra Bonura
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