Sara Nelson — the American labor leader who serves as the International President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) — was born on this day — March 11, 1973 — in Corvallis, Oregon.

She is a graduate of Principia College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Education with a focus on theater.

A flight attendant for United Airlines since 1996, Nelson has become one of the most prominent figures in the modern American labor movement. She is known for her leadership during the 2018–2019 government shutdown and her advocacy for aviation safety, workers’ rights, and collective bargaining. Under her leadership, the AFA represents nearly 50,000 flight attendants across 20 airlines, focusing on workplace protections and industry-wide labor standards.

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