Sam received a B.A in Environmental Studies from Ithaca College in 2020 and shortly after fulfilled his dream of moving to the Pacific Northwest. After a summer as a wilderness ranger with the Forest Service in western Washington, he moved to Oregon and began served a year as a RARE service member, an Americorps position, working jointly with McKenzie River Trust and the City of Yachats to conserve land and improve water security on the Central Coast. In the fall of 2021, Sam began his Graduate Program at the University of Oregon, while in school, Sam continues to support the work of McKenzie River Trust to build on the programs he started as an AmeriCorps RARE service member. Sam loves hiking, backpacking, and all other outdoor recreation.