Samantha Hanson

Samantha Hanson

she/her

Project Manager & Trainer

Samantha is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist who works as a Project Manager and Trainer for Garden State Equality. Samantha attended Florida Atlantic University for her undergraduate years, majoring in behavioral psychology, followed by earning her masters degree in school psychology from Georgian Court University. During her college years Samantha was an active member of Theta Phi Alpha Sorority, holding various leadership positions, as well as a second doubles college tennis player. 

 Samantha comes to Garden State Equality with a decade of experience in youth programming, curriculum development and research. Samantha spent 4 years working for Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation where she had the pleasure of working on numerous youth focused programs such as The Emotional Revolution, Kind Monsters EDU, Hack Harassment and Channel Kindness. Samantha also had the pleasure of leading the foundation’s Youth Advisory Board and participating in two iterations of the Born Brave Experiences research with the University of Nebraska Lincoln’s Bullying Research Network. Samantha was fortunate enough to present at the National Association of School Psychology conference on behalf of the Born This Way Foundation in 2016 and 2017 on her research pertaining directly to creating inclusive communities for sexual minority youth. 

Additionally, Samantha spent time developing Social Emotional Learning strategies and curriculum with both the One Love Foundation as well as Aperture Education. While with One Love, Samantha developed pedagogically sound curriculum and trainings focused on teaching young people how to recognize the warning signs of unhealthy relationships and linking students with the resources they need to be able help friends who might be in unhealthy or abusive situations. Samantha also led One Love’s Campus Ambassador program, spanning all 50 states with over 500 students. With Aperture Education, Samantha wrote Social Emotional Learning Strategies for students K-12 which were aligned with the CASEL SEL Standards. Samantha also sat as a founding member of the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board and assisted in leading and organizing staff affinity groups. 

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