Samantha grew up in a civically engaged family that is still regularly involved in their community. Like many individuals interested in politics, she volunteered on local and state races during high school and college, both partisan and nonpartisan. It was these experiences that allowed her to find her voice, passion, and the principles that kickstarted her career. Her varied career in politics has included direct involvement in both candidate campaigns and advocacy. Previous stops were as Regional Field and GOTV Director for congressional and presidential races, Director of Government Affairs for the PACE Center for Girls, and VP of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs for the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida. Samantha credits the Campaigning Program for equipping her with the foundational skills to execute a winning campaign, think like the opposition (a must for both campaigners and successful advocates), strengthen professional networks, and utilize academic concepts to better understand the political environment.
While Samantha herself isn’t surprised to be where she is today, her parents were surprised when she decided to forego law school. She knew that she wanted to make a meaningful difference for her community, state, and nation through her passion for advocacy, and this ultimately led to her current role as Director of Government Relations for UF. “Although some might say our work is seasonal, we’re advocates year-round,” Samantha said. “During committee weeks and session, we educate and engage stakeholders almost daily about UF’s priorities. During the off months, we work closely with the Board of Governors and agencies to implement the enacted laws and set our priorities for the following session.” Samantha sees UF eventually rising to become a top-five public university in the nation, with UF students, faculty, and alumni achieving great success in countless industries and conducting research that will benefit Floridians and the world.