Samantha graduated from Cairn University in 2010 with a BS in Secondary Social Studies Education, and went on to be the first Cairn alum. to complete the John Jay Institute fellowship. In the following years she worked on educational choice legislation (what would become the Gardiner Program) in the state of Florida while serving as an aide in the FL Senate. This legislation paved the way for groundbreaking educational choice initiatives for students with unique abilities in the state which continue to expand to virtually open access ed. choice opportunities for students in the state of Florida. She then switched to the private sector and managed client accounts for communications & marketing agency which serviced organizations like the Colson Center for Christian Worldview and the Acton Institute. Samantha completed the MAGH program (Specialization in Teaching American History and Government) at Ashland University in 2021.

She is currently enrolled in the Colson Fellows program in the 2023-2024 class. In her work for Colson now, she manages all communications to their audience base for development and products. She assists their media products like the Breakpoint podcast (top 100 on Apple Charts in Religion & Spirituality) and Christian worldview formation programs like the Colson Fellows program as they equip Christians to live with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. She is also involved in donor communications and development in her work with the Colson Center (a career field which she highly recommends for liberal arts majors!). 

Samantha notes, “Much of my formal education is in history. I find skills related to research, writing, and critical thinking have been invaluable in my work experience both in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.”