Hi! I’m Sandra, an engineer-epidemiologist-statistician-theologian-turned-web designer at Sandra Ham Consulting LLC. I make beautiful, strategic, forward-thinking websites for Roman Catholic parishes. Continue reading to see more about how I use my technical experience to benefit the Church.
My websites are distinctive in several ways, reflecting my background and experience. They can do more than just show Mass times, ministries, and the parish calendar—their content is meaty. They integrate my unique combination of tools from my previous careers in science and engineering, and theological education, underutilized artistic gifts, and experience as a convert. My websites can help you declutter, reorganize, simplify, and modernize your online presence. Your new site will improve your communication both within your parish and with potential visitors for Mass.
There’s more. Since I have a long history of working in the health sector using best practices for improving population health, I add another dimension. My websites may also incorporate mental health interventions in the form of educational content. This is guided by my proprietary adaptation of a conceptual model that is commonly used in the health sector. My aims are to help parishes improve the spiritual and mental health of their parishioners while also developing organizations.
I have over 30 years of education and experience as an engineer, epidemiologist, statistician, and theologian. I started in mechanical engineering with a degree from Kettering University and worked in industry as a manufacturing engineer. Career #2 was in nutrition and physical activity epidemiology and statistics. It began with a degree in nutrition from Cornell University. I worked in public health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and in medicine as a biostatistical consultant doing medical research at the University of Chicago.
In response to a mid-life religious conversion and calling, I began career #3 by leaving a good job at the CDC. I felt called to return to graduate school for a degree from the University of Chicago’s Divinity School. Today I am an independent scholar in theology, philosophy, and the history of Christianity, and a peer reviewer for health journals.
This unusual combination has been shaped in particular ways by my insistence upon always developing my God-given gifts and talents towards old-fashioned wisdom and expertise—no matter what forks show up in the road. I’m a lifelong learner who indulged in the pursuit of the “life of the mind”—Chicago style. My aspirations have always looked to multi-disciplinary generalist scholars like C. S. Lewis from a century ago. And like a typical engineer, I’ve always been a creative problem solver, finding problems to solve in every field and job. Epidemiology and public health are also natural fits. With these habits of mind, I thrive in teams that love my old-school, creative approach!
Today my professional life is oriented around present and planned future needs across multiple areas of knowledge, skills, and networks. I have been obtaining web design certifications at Codecademy and frequently attend in-person WP Buffalo WordPress Users meetups. To stay current on important issues of religion, politics, and the public square, I lead the discussion group, Readers of First Things, in Buffalo, New York.
I am also involved in:
