What Samantha has been up to during her year at Harvard.
Crazy, right? All this. In one year. VIRTUALLY… and this does not include her classes, all of which she somehow aced!
VP of Political Action and Engagement
She joined the Black Graduate Student Alliance as the VP of Political Action and Engagement; as such, she hosted events and served on the committee to plan Harvard Black Graduation.
Saul Zaentz Fellow at HGSE
She is a Saul Zaentz Fellow, for excellence in early childhood education.
Harvard Fellow at Scholastic
Through the Zaentz initiative, she did a fellowship with Scholastic helping them design and think through content, products, and professional development with an equity lens.
Intern for Facing History
Was part of a team that did an equity audit on aspects of Facing History's work.
Research Assistant at MIT
She discovered an artist who at MIT who was combining art and technology to do social justice; she tracked him down and became an MIT Research Assistant.
Equity and Inclusion Fellow
She's an Equity and Inclusion Fellow, part of a fellowship cohort created by the HGSE Office of DEIB, and has co-facilitated workshops at the Harvard Extension School throughout the year.
Student Keynote Speaker for Black Graduation Ceremony
Nominated to give the student keynote speech for the Black Graduation Ceremony.
Black Women’s Multimedia Video Production
She found out about a class called Say Her Name and ended up creating a Black Women's multimedia video production that prompted the HGSE DEIB Office to host hosting a 2-night viewing and panel discussion.
Launched TIE DIE, which bridges EdTech & Equity
She wanted to help with diversity efforts in the TIE program, so she launched an equity component called TIE DIE in January, where she's convinced a committee of students to help her host 3-4 events a month, including events with speakers from Google India, Curriculum Associates, Scholastic, Disney TV, PBS Kids, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Sesame Workshop, and GBH.
TIE Class Marshal
She was voted Class Marshal by her TIE peers.
Co-Founder of SAL
Helped design a professional development app prototype to combat racism and microaggressions called SAL (Sharing Anecdotes & Learning).
Drafted Policy for Police Reform
She discovered a Kennedy School class called Creating Justice in Real Time, and thought, "I have to take that!" and ended up working with the Birmingham mayor's office helping draft policy for police reform.
Credited on page 2. Team was responsible for Section X - Research and Recommendations.