Sam Cole, M. Ed., creates opportunities for UVA students to engage with the variety of resources available through the CSC and helps to build bridges between different parts of Grounds to aid in the development of a holistically well and engaged student life within the CSC and beyond. Sam also supervises the Contemplative Commons Student Advisors (CCSAs) who act as student hosts of the Contemplative Commons, dedicated to infusing the space with the unique energy and vitality of student life, keeping student self-governance at its core.
Prior to joining the CSC, Sam worked in a variety of fields ranging from academic support services and research into executive functioning's role in academic skill development, to raising livestock and becoming a concrete mason. Sam's most recent work has been at UVA providing support for students within Housing and Residence Life as a Residence Life Coordinator. In this role Sam was able to build lasting relationships with students and staff across Grounds and rekindle a love for higher education. Sam is excited to see how his prior experience working with student leaders in the form of Resident Advisors and Senior Residents, can translate into providing robust support for his student-staff at the CSC.
Sam is very active in the Charlottesville community. As a native of Charlottesville, Sam attended Free Union Country School and Tandem Friends School, both of which Sam credits with fostering his lifelong desire to be of service to others. Sam is also involved in the local recovery community here in Charlottesville. As a person in long term recovery from challenges with substance use, Sam is grateful to be able to give back and provide support to fellow community members experiencing similar challenges. Sam incorporates this into his professional work, having presented at several state and regional conferences on the topic of creating and sustaining accessible spaces on college campuses for individuals in recovery, utilizing parts of his story as a way to help educate others and show that the sky's the limit when it comes to what can be accomplished through recovery.
Sam has a master's in education with a focus in higher education administration from UNCG's School of Education, and a bachelor of arts in secondary education and history from Guilford College in Greensboro NC. During his time in Greensboro Sam played college lacrosse as well as club rugby, but today Sam has traded in his lacrosse stick and rugby shorts for a rolling pin and apron, focusing his time on helping his sourdough rise and grow, as he hopes he can help his students, and beloved cat Honeydew, do as well.