Samantha Sanderson grew up in Boulder, CO in the 1970s when Naropa was founded and began to develop into a university.
She received a BA degree in English Literature from Kenyon College in 1991, and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 1997. She moved back to the Bay Area in 1997 and worked for several years as a High School Counselor at Marin Academy in San Rafael, CA.
When her first child was born in 2001, she was able to stay at home to raise him along with her second son born in 2005. For the past sixteen years she has been active on the Board of Trustees and Parent Association (as Secretary, Vice President and President) of St. Paul’s Episcopal School. She also served for ten years on the Board of River of Words, serving as Board President for three years, during which time she helped navigate the transition of the organization from an independent 501C3 to a vital program of St. Mary’s College in Lafayette, CA.
She recently fulfilled a long-time wish to work in an independent bookstore. She enjoys discussing literature, recommending books and brainstorming creative ways to keep independent bookstores alive and well. She also pursues many artistic interests including painting, clay and fiber arts. She is in the early planning stage of a new venture that will combine her passions for books and the creative arts by creating spaces that bring people together for experiences that inspire them, expand their thinking and wake them up!
