Samantha has always been driven by an authentic desire to help students reach their full potential. A highly valued member of McMillan Education’s traditional college and school planning teams, Sam combines her expertise in admissions and educational choices with her warm and upbeat approach to working with students from around the country. Sam’s background uniquely qualifies her to work with a wide range of students, from high achievers looking for the school or college where they will thrive to students with learning and behavioral challenges. As an equally critical team member of McMillan Education’s Special Needs group, Sam’s educational training and earlier work as an occupational therapist has also allowed her to develop unique expertise in working with children, adolescents and young adults with neurodivergent profiles who are in need of specialized guidance in school, post-secondary, college, and therapeutic planning. In addition to the unique perspective she brings to her work in college, school and special needs planning, families and students love working with Sam for her combination of calming reassurance, clarity of message, compassion and expertise.
While working with families in need of therapeutic and educational planning from around the country and abroad, Sam continues to practice part-time as an occupational therapist specializing in treating patients with neurological dysfunction at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado. Prior to her work at Craig, Sam was an OT practitioner at St. David’s Rehabilitation Hospital and KidsWork Therapy Services, both in Austin, Texas, where, as a bilingual speaker of English and Spanish, she treated patients from young children to young adults facing a wide range of challenges stemming from sensory integration deficits, autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay and learning and intellectual disabilities. Sam has also worked tutoring middle school students with learning challenges, creating classroom behavioral plans for students with emotional and behavioral struggles, and providing therapeutic horseback riding instruction to students with learning and developmental disabilities such as ADHD and autism spectrum disorder.
Sam earned a dual bachelor’s of science in psychology and bachelor’s of arts degree in Spanish from Tulane University. She then completed her master’s degree in occupational therapy at Louisiana State University. Throughout her education and career, Sam has remained committed to and active in community service. She has devoted her time to suicide prevention, children experiencing loss and grief, disabled athletes and veterans, and youth sports for students with autism spectrum disorder.
Born in the NYC area, Sam grew up in Denver where she and her husband Austin and their dogs Wiley and Nova live and enjoy their proximity to all of the beautiful and amazing outdoor activities surrounding them. They also spend a lot of time in Austin, Texas, home to Sam’s husband’s family. An avid skier, equestrian, and traveler, Sam is always on the move. Thankfully no one holds Sam responsible for being Don and Sarah’s niece.
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