Ms. Martha Sardiñas retired in 2011 with over 35 years of Foreign and Civil Service experience with the US Department of State. Her specializations included consular affairs, refugee work, IT support requirements, and border security. In her most recent assignment as an Office Director in the Visa Office, Ms. Sardiñas managed interagency programs focused on border security. Her last overseas assignment was Manila. At the US Embassy in Manila she directed American citizen assistance. Ms. Sardiñas’ other consular and refugee experience with the Department of State included assignments in Thailand, Pakistan, New Zealand, Fiji, Mexico, and Washington, D.C. Currently Ms. Sardiñas lives in Hawthorne, California.  In California she worked as a volunteer mediator in community and court mediation for more than 6 years.  She now volunteers at St Margaret's Center working directly with homeless and low income residents to help achieve food and housing security..  She participates actively in the Pacific Council on International Policy, her home owners association (HOA) and supports arts and culture in Los Angeles. Ms. Sardiñas holds a BA in international affairs from the University of the Americas and a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Southern California.  . She is proficient in Spanish.