Sandra Flores-Castillo is a bilingual professional based in Minnesota. She began her career with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) during her senior year of high school through the Phoenix Internship Program. Over the years, she advanced to become a Photogrammetric Technician – Transportation Generalist Senior at MnDOT, specializing in lidar, photogrammetric compilation, and GIS mapping projects. As a first-generation college graduate and Hispanic woman in STEM, she actively promotes geospatial careers to youth and serves as a Brand Ambassador for the "Get Kids Into Survey" initiative .
For Sandra Flores-Castillo, becoming a Photogrammetric Technician at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) wasn’t just the beginning of a career — it was the culmination of a journey defined by curiosity, resilience, and a deep-rooted commitment to public service.
Sandra’s story begins in her junior year of high school, when a growing interest in STEM led her to apply for the Phoenix Internship Program at MnDOT. She was placed at the Materials and Road Research Lab in Maplewood, MN, where she entered her first professional office environment. What started as a summer internship soon became a defining experience, introducing her to the dynamic world of transportation and engineering.
Recognizing her dedication and potential, MnDOT extended her internship into her senior year. It was during this time that Sandra began to see a future in civil engineering — and perhaps, even a future at MnDOT. Inspired by the work around her and the impact it had on everyday Minnesotans, she pursued a degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Minnesota.
Sandra’s educational and professional journey continued through MnDOT’s Seeds Student Worker Program. In her freshman year, she joined the Bituminous Engineering Unit, where she began building a strong technical foundation. Eager to expand her understanding of the field, she spent the following summer with the Survey Unit, traveling throughout the state and gaining hands-on experience in fieldwork and data collection.
By sophomore year, Sandra transferred to the Waters Edge office in Roseville and joined the Design Group. There, she began working on CAD mapping projects — a gateway to what would become a growing interest in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). But just as her path was becoming clearer, the world changed.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted life everywhere. Sandra’s planned transfer to the Bridge Office was paused, and she was temporarily reassigned to the Department of Public Safety as a Health Screener at the Arden Hills DMV. The shift from engineering to frontline public health work was dramatic — but also transformative. The experience strengthened her communication skills, adaptability, and appreciation for public-facing roles — all crucial to her growth as a state employee.
It was during this time that Sandra made a pivotal academic decision: she switched her major from Civil Engineering to a Bachelor of Science in Geography with a focus on GIS. The decision would prove to be a defining one.
Returning to MnDOT, Sandra joined the Geographic Information and Mapping (GIM) Section as a GIS student worker. Her work contributed to a wide array of cartographic products, including customized GIS datasets for Minnesota’s 87 counties, 854 cities, and 1,781 townships. The flexibility of remote work allowed her to balance her studies
while continuing to contribute meaningfully to the agency’s mission.
As a senior, she took on a capstone project titled “Including Unincorporated Communities into the Zoning Database,” a real-world mapping initiative that connected her academic studies with her professional experiences. It was a proud moment — a signal that Sandra had found her voice and place in the field.
After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Sandra entered the MnROW (MnDOT’s Retaining Our Workforce) Program, which allowed her to continue working within the GIM Section while exploring permanent roles. She also participated in MnDOT’s Leadership Development Program (LDP), which exposed her to specialized areas across the agency. One course in particular stood out: Photogrammetry.
Sandra was instantly drawn to the intersection of technology, mapping, and spatial precision. When a full-time opportunity opened in the Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Unit, she didn’t hesitate.
Today, as a Photogrammetric Technician, Sandra supports Minnesota’s transportation systems through advanced geospatial analysis. She works with aerial imagery and mapping workflows that inform critical infrastructure planning and decision-making statewide. It’s a role that blends her technical expertise with her passion for serving the public.
Most recently, she became an ambassador for the 'Get Kids into Survey' initiative, where she actively engages with young minds to inspire and educate them about the exciting possibilities in future geospatial careers, fostering a new generation of innovators in the field. Beyond that she is actively educating other geospatial professionals about the many great uses that photogrammetry and remote sensing bring to the table.
Sandra Flores-Castillo’s story is one of resilience, representation, and rising through opportunity. As a first-generation college graduate, a Latina in STEM, and a trailblazer for women in geospatial science, she’s helping shape not just the maps of Minnesota — but the future of MnDOT itself.
Connect with Sandra Flores-Castillo on LinkedIn.
Including Unincorporated Communities Into The Zoning Database:
https://mdl.mndot.gov/taxonomy/term/2491
Get Kids Into Surveying:
https://www.getkidsintosurvey.com/blog/ambassador-spotlight-sandra-flores-castillo/
Stillwater grads, twins to study civil engineering after MnDOT internships:
https://www.hometownsource.com/stillwater_gazette/news/education/stillwater-grads-twins-to-study-civil-engineering-after-mndot-internships/article_4b7db9ac-65e0-11e8-941b-a3d01a8b110d.html
For Sandra Flores-Castillo, becoming a Photogrammetric Technician at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) wasn’t just the beginning of a career — it was the culmination of a journey defined by curiosity, resilience, and a deep-rooted commitment to public service.
Sandra’s story begins in her junior year of high school, when a growing interest in STEM led her to apply for the Phoenix Internship Program at MnDOT. She was placed at the Materials and Road Research Lab in Maplewood, MN, where she entered her first professional office environment. What started as a summer internship soon became a defining experience, introducing her to the dynamic world of transportation and engineering.
Recognizing her dedication and potential, MnDOT extended her internship into her senior year. It was during this time that Sandra began to see a future in civil engineering — and perhaps, even a future at MnDOT. Inspired by the work around her and the impact it had on everyday Minnesotans, she pursued a degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Minnesota.
Sandra’s educational and professional journey continued through MnDOT’s Seeds Student Worker Program. In her freshman year, she joined the Bituminous Engineering Unit, where she began building a strong technical foundation. Eager to expand her understanding of the field, she spent the following summer with the Survey Unit, traveling throughout the state and gaining hands-on experience in fieldwork and data collection.
By sophomore year, Sandra transferred to the Waters Edge office in Roseville and joined the Design Group. There, she began working on CAD mapping projects — a gateway to what would become a growing interest in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). But just as her path was becoming clearer, the world changed.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted life everywhere. Sandra’s planned transfer to the Bridge Office was paused, and she was temporarily reassigned to the Department of Public Safety as a Health Screener at the Arden Hills DMV. The shift from engineering to frontline public health work was dramatic — but also transformative. The experience strengthened her communication skills, adaptability, and appreciation for public-facing roles — all crucial to her growth as a state employee.
It was during this time that Sandra made a pivotal academic decision: she switched her major from Civil Engineering to a Bachelor of Science in Geography with a focus on GIS. The decision would prove to be a defining one.
Returning to MnDOT, Sandra joined the Geographic Information and Mapping (GIM) Section as a GIS student worker. Her work contributed to a wide array of cartographic products, including customized GIS datasets for Minnesota’s 87 counties, 854 cities, and 1,781 townships. The flexibility of remote work allowed her to balance her studies
while continuing to contribute meaningfully to the agency’s mission.
As a senior, she took on a capstone project titled “Including Unincorporated Communities into the Zoning Database,” a real-world mapping initiative that connected her academic studies with her professional experiences. It was a proud moment — a signal that Sandra had found her voice and place in the field.
After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Sandra entered the MnROW (MnDOT’s Retaining Our Workforce) Program, which allowed her to continue working within the GIM Section while exploring permanent roles. She also participated in MnDOT’s Leadership Development Program (LDP), which exposed her to specialized areas across the agency. One course in particular stood out: Photogrammetry.
Sandra was instantly drawn to the intersection of technology, mapping, and spatial precision. When a full-time opportunity opened in the Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Unit, she didn’t hesitate.
Today, as a Photogrammetric Technician, Sandra supports Minnesota’s transportation systems through advanced geospatial analysis. She works with aerial imagery and mapping workflows that inform critical infrastructure planning and decision-making statewide. It’s a role that blends her technical expertise with her passion for serving the public.
Most recently, she became an ambassador for the 'Get Kids into Survey' initiative, where she actively engages with young minds to inspire and educate them about the exciting possibilities in future geospatial careers, fostering a new generation of innovators in the field. Beyond that she is actively educating other geospatial professionals about the many great uses that photogrammetry and remote sensing bring to the table.
Sandra Flores-Castillo’s story is one of resilience, representation, and rising through opportunity. As a first-generation college graduate, a Latina in STEM, and a trailblazer for women in geospatial science, she’s helping shape not just the maps of Minnesota — but the future of MnDOT itself.
Connect with Sandra Flores-Castillo on LinkedIn.
Including Unincorporated Communities Into The Zoning Database:
https://mdl.mndot.gov/taxonomy/term/2491
Get Kids Into Surveying:
https://www.getkidsintosurvey.com/blog/ambassador-spotlight-sandra-flores-castillo/
Stillwater grads, twins to study civil engineering after MnDOT internships:
https://www.hometownsource.com/stillwater_gazette/news/education/stillwater-grads-twins-to-study-civil-engineering-after-mndot-internships/article_4b7db9ac-65e0-11e8-941b-a3d01a8b110d.html
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