Sam is a community planner with deep experience in public engagement, project management and local government. Through her experience, she has gained a thorough understanding of government entities and the challenges they face. She is passionate about fostering constructive communication between people and government and is proud to have built relationships with community groups to develop projects that serve diverse needs.
Sam has over ten years of experience as a public sector planner, including serving as Queens Director of Strategic Initiatives at the City of New York Department of Transportation, and previously worked at the Berkeley Public Works Department Transportation Division and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. She holds a Master of Urban Planning from San Jose State University with a focus on community development and also holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science.
Sam is a California native and was born and raised in Albany and Berkeley, though her familial roots stretch back through New York City, Topeka, Kansas, and Hawaii. Her passions include convenience cycling, sustainable food systems and chipping away at the housing crisis one project at a time.