Admin Sam (he/him) is entering his 10th year at PSCS. He grew up in many places—including 3 places in each Dakota—and has traveled to 49 of our 50 states. 28 years in Seattle doesn’t make him a native, for sure, but it’s been home for a long time. He currently lives in Columbia City with his partner, Joe, kids, Julienne and Jaxton, two cats, and a bunch of chickens. The soil in his yard is somehow perfectly textured: a magical loam that holds water and drains. He also has three older kids from a prior life chapter who are spread around Seattle and California, as well as family of origin around the US. Sam would almost always rather be outside hiking, digging in the dirt, planting things, feeling the sun and wind (and rain) on his face. A wholehearted lover of Eastern WA, he’s often on the dry side leaning geology from seeing and touching it. Grab him to compare notes on favorite spots. If Sam’s not outside, he’s likely to be found in a chair reading, or in the kitchen cooking with whatever is in the fridge or garden. A long-time Master Gardener (WSU Extension Volunteer), Sam served multiple roles on the board of the Master Gardener Foundation of King County. The Master Gardener community of volunteers is central to his research-based, collaborative approach to much of life. It also provided him an education in budgeting for a diverse program of outreach that supports a volunteer corps of 600 people and paid staff members. “It’s a humbling challenge to hold the dreams parents have for their kids, and the dreams students have for themselves. Now, in this new structure, working to build something collaborative and anti-hierarchical, I’m more tired, but better used.” B.A. Comparative History of Ideas, University of Washington Read More >