Sam Larson is a second-year Ph.D. student and research assistant in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado-Denver. She currently serves as the project lead for the Community Cohesion and Resilience Project (CCRP) in the Center for Local Government Research and Training. Sam is part of a team that was recently awarded an ASPA and NAPA Center for Accountability and Performance (CAP) Fellowship to evaluate social equity frameworks and measures. Her additional research interests include: public management, collaborative governance, and the relationship between gender equity and community resilience. Over the course of her academic career, she has been involved in many endeavors focused on women’s advancement. For instance, she has supported an NSF ADVANCE grant to increase the recruitment and retention of STEM faculty women and developed an undergraduate service seminar focused on the intersections of gender and climate justice. Her practical experience also includes 12 years in public service and nonprofit management. Sam holds a M.S. in Sociology and College Teaching Certificate (North Dakota State University) and a B.A. in Social Science (University of North Dakota).