PSU History
Samantha previously graduated from Portland State University in 2018 with a degree in Social Work and joined the School of Social Work in the Fall of 2024 as a Training Specialist with the Child Welfare Partnership Program.
Experience
Samantha interned with the Oregon Department of Human Services Child Welfare while finishing out her BSW and this is where her passion for child welfare began. Samantha is bilingual/bicultural and comes with seven years of child welfare experience where she spent a short period of time working as a temporary social service assistant and a little over six years as a child protective services worker in Washington County. Over the years, she has found a passion in working with Oregon families and community partners to work towards better outcomes for children and families. While continuing to carry cases, Samantha joined her district's anti-racism and equity committee as well as trained community partners in mandatory reporting.
Academic/Research Interests
Samantha has fond memories of being a student at Portland State, and was excited at the opportunity to join a group of talented, knowledgeable, and innovative staff members. She is hoping to continue her growth in learning all things child welfare and use her knowledge and experiences to teach the new child welfare workforce.
Personal Interests
Outside of work, Samantha has been coaching Colorguard since 2014, where she teaches high school kids how to dance and spin equipment such as flags, rifles, and sabres. She also enjoys spending time with her friends and family.