Curriculum Vitae
Sandra (Sandy) Bowers Self, J.D.
ADDRESS: Hardin-Simmons University
P.O. Box 16232
Skiles Building, Suite 239
Abilene, Texas 79698
PHONE: 325.670.5885
EMAIL:
POSITION: Professor of Political Science, Director of Legal Studies and Director of Forensic Studies
Hardin-Simmons University
EDUCATION:
Texas Tech University School of Law
Doctorate of Jurisprudence May 1986
The University of Texas at Austin
Bachelor of Journalism, August 1983
The University of Colorado at Boulder
August 1979 thru May 1981
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:
Licensed to practice law by the State Bar of Texas
Licensed to practice law in the Federal Northern District of Texas; The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals; and, the United States Supreme Court
Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Criminal Law (inactive)
PUBLICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS:
PowerPoint Lecture Presentations
Developed and prepared the supplementary PowerPoint lectures for three textbooks which are currently being utilized by instructors around the country
American Government, Historical, Popular and Global Perspectives, 2nd Ed.
Kenneth Dautrich and David Yalof – Cengage Publishing (19 Chapters)
American Government, Historical, Popular and Global Perspectives, Brief Version
2nd Ed.
Kenneth Dautrich and David Yalof – Cengage Publishing (19 Chapters)
Lone Star Politics, 1st Ed.
Paul Benson, David Clinkscale, and Anthony Giardino – Pearson Publishing (12 Chapters)
Texas Government: Policy and Politics, 12th Ed.
Neal Tannahill – Pearson Publishing (14 Chapters)
Textbook Reviews
American Government: Historical, Popular, and Global Perspectives, 2nd Ed.
Kenneth Dautrich and David Yalof – Cengage Publishing
Texas Politics, 10th Ed.
Richard Kraemer, Charldean Newell, and David Prindle – Cengage Publishing
Criminal Evidence Principles and Cases, 5th Ed.
Thomas J. Gardner & Terry M. Anderson – Cengage Publishing
Seminar Presentations
Southwest Association of Pre-Law Advisors Annual Conference
Speaker/Presenter – Building a Pre-Law Website
HSU Faculty Development Seminars
Speaker/Presenter - Academic Integrity
American Association of University Women Membership Tea:
Speaker – The Nineteenth Amendment
Advanced Family Law Seminar:
Speaker/Presenter - Direct and Cross-Examination of Expert Witnesses in the
Wake of Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Advanced Criminal Law Seminar:
Speaker/Presenter –Preparing for and Passing the Texas Legal Specialization Exam
Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services Annual Meeting: Speaker/Presenter – Termination of Parental Rights: Trial Tips, Tricks, and
Traps
Prosecution of Child Abuse Cases, Workshop for Child Abuse Professionals:
Speaker/Presenter – Shaken Baby Syndrome: Evidentiary Considerations and
Concerns
TDPRS Special Litigation Unit Annual Meeting/Workshop:
Speaker/Presenter – Voir Dire in Termination of Parental Rights Trials: How to
Select the Best Possible Jury for Your Case
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Hardin-Simmons University
Director of Legal Studies and Associate Professor of Political Science: since 2003
Adjunct Professor: 2001
Abilene Municipal Court: Associate Judge
Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services: 1999-2003
Attorney: Special Litigation Unit
Represented the Department in complex litigation seeking termination of parental rights in cases involving abuse and neglect of children
Special Prosecutor, Lamb County, Texas: 1998
Successfully prosecuted a capital murder case
Law Offices of Sandy Self: 1998
Private practice consisting of criminal law; family law, including child custody and divorce; contracts; real estate; juvenile law; business litigation; First Amendment and privacy issues; dog mauling; wills and trusts. Experience includes pursuing a defamation and invasion of privacy case in federal court against a major television network; and appellate experience in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Also includes filing a Writ of Certiorari in the Supreme Court of the United States.
First Assistant Criminal District Attorney, Taylor County: 1987 – 1997 Prosecuted hundreds of jury trials, non-jury trials, motions to revoke probation, and suppression hearings, in all Taylor County Criminal Courts. The following list includes examples of the types of trials prosecuted, including but not limited to: Capital Murder, Murder, Manslaughter, Aggravated Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault, Indecency with a Child, Aggravated Kidnapping, Kidnapping, Aggravated Robbery, Robbery, Burglary, Theft, Perjury, Forgery, Welfare Fraud, Credit Card Abuse, Escape, Assault, and, Possession/Sale and Distribution of Controlled Substances.
Also, evaluated cases and issued arrest warrants on behalf of the following law enforcement agencies: the Abilene, Merkel, and Tye Police Departments, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Public Safety, the West Texas Interlocal Drug Task Force. Other duties included conducting Grand Jury proceedings.
Appellate Experience: Briefed numerous cases and presented oral argument in the Eastland Court of Appeals, including oral arguments in two cases before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; a capital murder appeal and a drug related appeal.
Associate Attorney, Law Offices of O. Henry Young: 1986 – 1987
General office practice and civil litigation
Associate Attorney, Vial, Hamilton, Koch & Knox:
General civil litigation with an emphasis on insurance defense
COURSES TAUGHT AT HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY:
American Government Modern Legal and Political Thought
State and Local Government Scope and Methods of Political Science
Criminal Law Legal Ethics
Law School Admissions Test Preparation Evidence and Procedure
Constitutional History and Law Moot Court Workshop
Constitutional Law: Liberties and Rights Legal Systems and Processes Constitutional Law: Powers Introduction to Law
Political/Legal Internships Family Law
Law in Film
Forensic Evidence and Expert Witness Testimony
HONORS AND AWARDS:
Cynthia Ann Parker College of Liberal Arts Teaching Excellence Award
Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services Legal Division:
“Firefighter Award
Abilene Young Lawyers Association: Outstanding Young Lawyer
PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES:
Pre-Law Associations
SWAPLA [Southwest Association of Pre-Law Advisors]
Current President-Elect
Former Board Secretary
PLANC [Pre-Law Advisors National Council]
Designated SWAPLA Representative on the Board of Directors
Texas Undergraduate Moot Court Association (TUMCA)
HSU Coach
Advisory Board Member
Undergraduate HSU Mediation Coach
HSU Athletic Committee: Current Chair
Sponsor: HSU Political Science and Legal Studies Student Society
Yellow Rose Scholarship Luncheon
Served as moderator and formulated questions for guest speaker Lynda Byrd Johnson Robb (February 2011)
Threshold Mock Trial
Prepared and presented a mock trial for the Threshold students – 4th and 5th grade ALPS children (2009 and 2010)
Competitions:
UIL: Director and sponsor for the Regional Current Events Competition
“We the People”: Served as a judge for the “We the People” Constitutional Issues State competition in Austin
Power Shack Gym & Fitness Center
Certified Fitness Instructor: BodyPump; BodyStep; CX
Civic Organizations
Teen Court Judge
Abilene Civil Service Commission: Board Member and Chair
Junior League of Abilene: Sustaining Member
Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Assn.: Member
Previous Activities and Involvement
Disability Resources, Inc.: Board Member and Board Secretary
HSU Grade Appeal and Academic
Misconduct Committee: Chair and Member
HSU Safety, Accessibility, and
Health Committee: Member
HSU Adopt-A-School Committee: Member
Abilene Police Dpt. Citizens Academy: Graduate
Taylor County Child Advocacy Center: Project Chairman
Junior League of Abilene: President; Community Vice-President; Provisional Chairman; Chairman of Public Affairs Committee, and Project Chair
Junior Leagues of Texas: Treasurer
Day Nursery of Abilene: Board of Directors
Abilene South Junior/Senior
Baseball League: Player Agent/All Star Team Coordinator
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Abilene: Board of Directors
Better Business Bureau: Board of Directors
Noah Project: Board of Directors Advisory Board
Crime Victims Crisis Center: Instructor
DWI School for probationers: Instructor
Abilene Bar Association: Board of Directors
Abilene Young Lawyers: President and Board Member
Abilene Police Academy: Instructor
For the Children 2000: Board Member
I am Your Child: Mayor’s planning committee
United Way of Abilene: Chairman - Professional Division
Dixie Little League: Board of Directors and Player Agent
Magic Mirror: Fitness Instructor
American Association of
Fitness Instructors (AFFA): Certification
Texas Association of District and
County Attorneys (TDCAA): Member
SPECIAL STUDY, CONFERENCES, AND CONVENTIONS:
SWAPLA [Southwest Association of Pre-Law Advisors]
Annual Conference in San Antonio, Fall 09 – Elected Board Secretary
Board Meeting – Houston, Fall 2009
Board Meeting – New Orleans, Spring 2010
Annual Conference – New Orleans, Fall 2010
Board Meeting – Ft. Worth, Spring 2011
Annual Conference – Ft. Worth, Fall 2011
Board Meeting – San Antonio, Spring 2012
Annual Conference – San Antonio, Fall 2013 – Elected Board President-Elect
Joint Annual Conference (SWAPLA/SAPLA) – New Orleans, LA, Fall 2014: I was one of three co-chairmen of this event
PLANC [Pre-Law Advisors National Council}
Quadrennial National Conference – Las Vegas, 2008
Quadrennial National Conference – Washington, D.C., 2012
Board of Director’s Meeting – Atlanta, Fall 2013
Board of Director’s Meeting - New Orleans, Fall 2014
NAPLA [Northeast Association of Pre-Law Advisors]
Annual Conference – Washington D.C., 2006
Continuing Legal Education
Advanced Family Law Seminar, State Bar of Texas
Advanced Criminal Law Seminar, State Bar of Texas Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services Annual Meeting Prosecution of Child Abuse Cases, Workshop for Child Abuse Professional
TDPRS Special Litigation Unit Annual Meeting/Workshop
Multiple Texas District and County Attorney Association Prosecution Seminars
Advanced Evidence and Discovery Seminar
Multiple Legislative Update Seminars
Advanced Civil Litigation Seminar
Association of Junior Leagues International: National Conferences/Seminars
2006 Association of Pre-Law Advisors Conference – Washington DC
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS AND ACTIVITIES:
Highland Church of Christ, Abilene
PERSONAL:
Married to Charles Clark Self, III since 1987
Children: Hayden Taylor Self and Hunter Weston Self