Sam grew up wandering the vast Sagebrush Sea, whose quiet expanses inspired his passion for conservation. After earning a degree in Natural Resource Management from OSU-Cascades, he began working as a Backcountry Ranger. His career has since taken him through the rugged landscapes of the Deschutes, Payette, and Inyo National Forests, as well as Joshua Tree National Park. Despite spending most of his career in forests, he’s a desert rat at heart and is excited to be back in the Southwest.

In the frontcountry, he can be found thrifting, dancing at music festivals, or chasing golden hour with his camera. Sam is stoked to join Wild Arizona, where he looks forward to helping restore Arizona’s landscapes and building meaningful partnerships with Tribal Nations.