Our AAUW Santa Maria Branch was established in May 1951. We are one of more than 1,000 branches throughout the nation, serving more than 170,000 members and supporters.

2025-2026 Board Members

Co-Presidents ~ Sondra Smith & Sandy Boyd
President-Elect ~ open
Vice-President – Membership ~ Laura Selken
Vice-President – Programs ~ Marion Patterson
Co-Secretaries ~ Marianne Angel & Kathi Hinkle
Treasurer ~ Lynda Snodgrass
Treasurer-Elect ~ open
Past President ~ Sondra Smith

Appointed Officers

AAUW Funds ~ Cathy McCue
Public Policy ~ open
Parliamentarian/Bylaws ~ Gloria Paulus

Monthly Programs

We conduct monthly programs from September through June. Many are open to the public, with a few limited to members and their guests. Topics align with our mission and values and often take place at the Santa Maria Public Library.

Special Interest Groups

We have several interest groups, including those devoted to book discussions, readings of plays, dining out at area restaurants, playing games, and visiting local attractions. We also host “Great Decisions” groups (America’s largest discussion program on world affairs) that are open to the public.

Tech Trek

We sponsor several girls (who have finished 7th grade) to participate in the AAUW California state-wide Tech Trek program. This is a week-long overnight summer camp that focuses on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Campers travel to UCSB to live in the dorms, eat in the cafeteria, attend labs and classes, and learn what it might be like to be a college student. With the aim of encouraging girls to pursue STEM careers, the camp exposes them to a wide variety of STEM fields and occupations through hands-on experience in classes, workshops, and demonstrations led by professors and women STEM professionals.