Samantha is the Administrator over the Environmental Health Section of the Public Health Division. She oversees the Onsite Wastewater and Wells section and the Food & Lodging section in Environmental Health. Samantha is from Saltville, VA and received her BA in Biology, BS in Environmental Health, and her MS in Environmental Health from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN. She began her career in 1999 at the former Gaston County Health Department as an Environmental Health Specialist in the Onsite Wastewater and Wells section. She served as the Program Supervisor for Onsite Wastewater and Wells, Preparedness Coordinator, and as the Environmental Health Assistant Administrator.
Samantha has served in various leadership roles in the Western North Carolina Public Health Association and the NC Environmental Health Supervisors Association. She has received the “Rookie of the Year” award from the Western North Carolina Public Health Association – Environmental Health section in 2001. She has received the Gaston County Public Health Extra Mile Award in 2004 and 2010. She received the Gaston County Public Health Outstanding Service Award in 2005 and Veteran of the Year Award in 2022.
Samantha serves as the Program Manager for the first direct federal grant for Public Health from CDC for the Healthy Wells Initiative.