As Associate Director of Engagement, Sam Peterson serves as the lead strategist and planner for educational programming at the Pacific Council that helps to grow, engage and inform the member community. Additionally, he oversees communication strategies aimed at elevating the Council’s work and members through storytelling and experiential events.

Prior to joining the Pacific Council, Sam lived and worked in Washington D.C. as the Director of Development and Senior Manager of External Affairs for the AmeriCorps organization City Year focusing on advancing educational outcomes for some of Washington’s most under-resourced schools. Before that, he worked for Halifax International Security Forum where he oversaw the execution of the organizations’ flagship annual event in Halifax, Nova Scotia bringing together 300+ democratic leaders to advance a modern vision of international security and cooperation.

Sam graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges where he studied Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies with a focus in Comparative Social Movements. Prior to his time at Hobart College, Sam lived and worked at schools in both Jordan and Costa Rica. He is originally from Rhode Island and loves spending time in the woods, on the beach or at a baseball game.