As a Program Specialist at GEO, Sammi works with the Program Team to increase community connection and to support the planning, development, and facilitation of peer learning opportunities. 

Previously, Sammi worked in mental health programming at Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). While there, she designed and facilitated multi-day mental health workshops providing coaching and psychoeducation to participants who have experienced trauma in their lifetime. Throughout her 5+ years at WWP, Sammi worked closely with local and national stakeholders to create dedicated community forums to address and highlight mental health challenges facing traditionally underserved populations – specifically survivors of military sexual trauma, LGBTQ+, women, and/or homeless veterans, service members, and their families. Sammi is a passionate advocate for increased representation of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ women voices in the veteran space. Prior to WWP, Sammi worked primarily in the non-profit arts and theatre world. She spent time working at Fremont Abbey Arts Center, a venue dedicated to curating “welcoming arts & cultural experiences where people of all ages and incomes can explore creativity, enjoy beauty, grow empathy and increase awareness.” 

Sammi attended Virginia Tech where she earned degrees in both Psychology and Theatre Arts & Cinema. Sammi feels passionately about learning and creating; she is an avid artist in many meanings of the word and likes to create time and space for people to explore and grow in their authenticity.