Hometown: Bend, Oregon, USA
Program: Online MSL in Environmental, Natural Resources & Energy Law
Graduation Date: May 2023
Current Position: Central Oregon Field Associate at Oregon Wild
Sami was fortunate to grow up in Bend, Oregon where access to public lands and opportunities for outdoor recreation were plentiful. These early life experiences on public lands helped inspire Sami to pursue a career in protecting these places that he enjoyed visiting.
The MSL program at Lewis & Clark helped supplement Sami’s conservation biology background with studies in environmental policy and natural resource law. In his current role at Oregon Wild, Sami works on federal public lands legislation, including legislation to designate new Wilderness areas and Wild & Scenic rivers in Oregon. Sami also monitors timber sales and logging projects in the Deschutes, Ochoco, and Mt. Hood National Forests.
“The courses I took provided me with in-depth knowledge of environmental laws relevant to my work, such as the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Forest Management Act,” Sami states about his coursework in the online program. “Doing the online MSL program was a huge bonus because it allowed me the time and flexibility to travel and continue enjoying our spectacular public lands while working towards my degree!”