Samantha is a native East Texan growing up on a farm in Bullard, attending public school, the Brook Hill School, and homeschooling before earning an associate’s degree in business administration from Tyler Junior College. Sam then went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Texas at Tyler. During their master’s program, Sam was competitively chosen as a Bill Archer Fellow, which took them to Washington, D.C. to study public policy at the Archer Center and intern at the Human Rights Campaign. They have a history of volunteerism, board membership, or employment with many LGBTQI organizations across Texas and the U.S.

After graduation Sam moved to D.C. serving as Chief of Staff at The Sheridan Group, a boutique government affairs firm serving nonprofit clients for over 30 years with a motto close to Sam’s heart: “Helping the good do better.” After the COVID-19 crisis began, Sam departed for the District of Columbia Health Department, where they gladly served the people of D.C. and a Health Director leading the nation in response initiatives. They went on to work for J.P. Morgan Chase supporting the Global Head of Regulatory Affairs, the Pew Research Center primarily focusing on International policy issues, and the Pew Charitable Trusts supporting the fundraising and philanthropic work of the Senior Vice President of Partnerships, before deciding it was time to relocate “back home” to Texas.

Sam now spends her days on the campus she loves dearly the University of Texas at Tyler, working in the Fisch College of Pharmacy. When not working, they enjoy spending time with their wife, Aysha, dogs, and the newest addition to the Wall family, a parrot who mimics Sam every chance he gets. They are thrilled to be bringing their executive-level management, familiarity with philanthropic development, and long history of community building to the Glass House Resource Center. But most of all, they are honored to be able to give back to a community they have spent their life fighting for and alongside.