Samantha Powers, Ph.D.

Sam Powers is the Director of Student Veteran Life at the University of Washington. She provides oversight and management of hiring, development of new programs, and centralization of existing services and resources available to UW student veterans. She provides outreach and collaborates with internal and external constituents.

Sam is a combat veteran of the U.S. Air Force Special Operations where she served as an Aircraft Maintenance officer on the C-130 Gunship Spectres. Sam served in Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom. She began her post-military career in the field of higher education working in Facilities/Physical Plant Operations as an administrative manager. She has additional experience in Continuing Education and Customized Training.

Most recently, Sam was the Director of the Washington State Veterans Training Support Center where she provided and delivered trainings to Washington State agencies on veteran-related topics in higher education, veteran best practices, and invisible wounds such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Sam volunteers for a number of veterans organizations in Washington State as a member and officer, and is an adjunct professor at various higher education institutions across the state and nation. She holds a B.A. in Military History from Virginia Tech, an M.A. in International Relations from University of Oklahoma, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Old Dominion University.