Samantha Alper

Sam joined Barr in 2017. She serves as the program associate on the Education Program, advancing two of its strategic levers – Build Public Will and Invest in Educators. Sam holds a bachelor’s degree in politics from Bates College and a master’s degree in public policy from The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, where she concentrated in children, youth, and family policy. Her master’s capstone project explored the intersection of early childhood developmental science and policy reform and evaluated policy options to facilitate fuller access to high-quality learning opportunities for all children in Massachusetts.

Prior to her studies at the Heller School, Sam worked at EF Education First, providing targeted consulting and training support to secondary school teachers and leaders eager to implement immersive global travel programs for their students. Before that, she was part of the policy and campaign operations team that guided Congressman Joe Kennedy III’s first victory to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Sam currently serves as a member of Philanthropy Massachusetts’ Program Committee. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities, exploring new cities with vibrant cultures and histories, and competing with her co-ed soccer team.