Samantha Nissen (she/her/hers) is Associate Director for Strategic Initiatives on the Buffett Institute’s Research & Programs team. In this role, Samantha mobilizes strategic planning and leads the development of new programs in research and education. She serves as Northwestern’s Fulbright U.S. Scholar Liaison.

Samantha is a PhD candidate in Comparative and International Development Education at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. In her current project, she researches transnational student experiences in U.S. journalism schools, employing narrative inquiry to examine contested issues of democracy, press freedom and belonging. Samantha is committed to reimagining the role of higher education as a transformative force to prepare and empower individuals to address complex social challenges.

Previously, she worked in career development at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism and in special projects at the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program. She holds a BA in Journalism and International Studies and an MEd in International Education Policy Studies.