Sandra Garcia has been appointed Regional Director for European Affairs and External Cooperation. The information was released yesterday by RTP/Azores, which reported that the former Regional Director for Culture took up her new position today as Vice-President of the Regional Government of the Azores.

Sandra Garcia has held the position of Regional Director of Culture since April last year. Between July 2021 and May 2022, she served as Regional Deputy Director of Culture at the Regional Secretariat for Culture, Science, and Digital Transition.

With a degree in International Relations from the Higher Institute of Social and Political Sciences of the University of Lisbon, specializing in Social and Political Sciences, Sandra Garcia is a senior technician in the Culture and Social Affairs Unit of the Angra do Heroísmo City Council.

Throughout her career, she has been chair of the board of GRATER – Regional Development Association; deputy to the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores in the VI Legislature, serving on the Youth and Education Committees; editor-in-chief of the newspaper “A União”; culture coordinator and head of division of the Culture and Promotion Unit of the Municipality of Angra do Heroísmo; and municipal deputy in the Municipal Assembly of Angra do Heroísmo. She is also co-author of the book “Angra, Cidade Transatlântica” (Angra, Transatlantic City).

The new Director succeeds Carlos Amaral, who left the position at his own request in May. Appointed in December 2020, Carlos Amaral served for almost four years. He holds a degree in Philosophy from Amherst College and a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, both in the United States of America. He holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of the Azores. He is an Associate Professor with Aggregation at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences of the same university, where he holds the Jean Monnet Chair, awarded by the European Commission. His academic activity extends to several universities in Portugal, Europe, and the Americas.

In Correio dos Açores-Natalino Viveiros, director

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.