Sam was born in Connecticut and graduated from Wellesley College in 2012. She moved out west to work to for the U.S. Geological Survey in Yosemite National Park in California. After spending some time doing research, she decided to explore connecting her love for the environment with education by working at the Colorado Outdoor Education Center. She now works for the Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning as an Associate Teacher for the fourth and fifth grades in Denver. In her free time, Sam loves spending time outside skiing, climbing, and trail running.