Samantha Miller Gurski earned an MS in Organizational Leadership from Columbus State University (CSU) and a BA in Philosophy from the University of South Carolina. She also holds adult education and accreditation certifications from the International Association of Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and Learning Resource Network (LERN). In her current role as Director of CSU’s Department of Continuing & Professional Education (CPE), she and a talented team actively serve the university and the Chattahoochee Valley community by offering richly varied programs, such as the English Language Institute, Activ8 youth programs, adult professional development certificates and personal enrichment programming, CSU Youth Dance Conservatory, CSU Testing Center/Prometric Testing Center, Empowered Youth of CSU, and more.
Before moving to Columbus, she worked in other industries including healthcare, food service, direct support, and human rights initiatives. Sam proudly serves on several committees including United Way of Chattahoochee Valley’s Community Schools United initiative and the College, Career, and Workforce Development committee for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley, and co-chairs the University System of Georgia Regents Advisory Committee on Public Service and Continuing Education. She loves reading, watching tv with her dogs, and helping anyone and everyone get from where they are to where they want to be. Sam is honored to be a member of this year’s impressive group of Young Gamechangers focused on this unique region; she is also very proud to have been recently recognized by a class of kindergarteners for her successful portrayal of a polar bear during storytime.