Sam Becker

Sam’s background in higher education includes academic work like teaching classes and providing research assistance as an academic librarian as well as programming support in social justice education. She brings a passion for education as a pathway toward liberation and a strong belief in the importance of information use in operationalizing one’s autonomy. Authenticity, reflection, and continual development are key to her professional identity as is sharing her knowledge in ways that are accessible and meaningful to her audience.

Sam came to UW Madison in a professional capacity in 2019, working first in the division of student affairs before moving into the School of Education. Her identities as a queer, woman of color and a transracial adoptee are critical to how she navigates her work, her role in the institution, and her relationships with students and faculty.

Sam holds a BA in English and Philosophy from Roosevelt University, a MA in Library and Information Science from UW Madison and a PhD in Education from Drake University. Her dissertation explores the phenomenon of institutional betrayal experienced by multiply marginalized undergraduate students as a result of their university’s response to instances of hate and bias on campus and nationally.