Sam Sumner is the Director of University Outreach and Engagement at Texas Tech University, joining the department in July 2018. In his position, Sam works under the supervision of Associate Vice Provost John Opperman, and alongside Dr. Birgit Green. Sam's primary duties are to assist Dr. Opperman and Dr. Green with the development of Outreach and Engagement initiatives, and to cultivate external community partnerships in collaboration with the Texas Tech faculty, staff, and students.

Sam has worked with community partnerships for over 25 years throughout the United States. Prior to joining Texas Tech, Sam was the Director of Emergency Services at the Tempe Community Action Agency where he provided direct oversight and management for the Community Action Programs including homeless prevention and services, health programming, food security programming, and unemployed & under-employment solutions. Sam also served as the Homeless Programs Manager. Through his roles at Tempe Community Action Agency, Sam partnered with Valley of the Sun United Way, various City of Tempe Departments, and a host of area non-profits including over 40 faith-based organizations.

Sam also served as a minister in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Maryland, and Arizona. He developed new ministries, outreach concepts, initiatives, and community partnerships to impact the surrounding communities. Some of the partners included State Farm Insurance Company, University of Illinois, Illinois State University, Arizona State University, University of Utah, Metro East Homeless Commission, the City of Phoenix, Area Agency on Aging, and the Phoenix MLK Celebration Committee.

Sam graduated from Morgan State University with a Bachelor of Arts, and acquired a Master of Divinity from Payne Theological Seminary. He earned a Certificate in Executive Non-Profit Leadership from the Arizona State University Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation.