Samara Schuman
M.S. in Foreign Service Student
Samara Schuman is a candidate in the Master of Science in Foreign Service program at Georgetown University, concentrating in Global Politics and Security. She graduated from the University of Oregon in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese and double minors in Political Science and Business Administration. She is a Department of Defense-funded Chinese Flagship student, a Boren Scholar, and a Department of State National Security Language Initiative for Youth alumna.
As a Filipina American, Samara’s interest in public service is rooted in her commitment to community building and her passion for creating spaces where people can authentically connect. She has participated in and worked for more than ten U.S. federally funded exchange programs across China, Taiwan, Japan, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, and Romania. Her professional experience includes serving as an Ambassador’s Executive Assistant at the USA Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka and as a White House staff assistant and advance associate, where she planned events for President Biden, Vice President Harris, First Lady Dr. Biden, and Second Gentleman Emhoff. She has also worked as an assistant wedding coordinator.
A Department of State Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellow, Samara is deeply committed to public diplomacy. She speaks Mandarin and is a novice in Arabic, Spanish, and Tagalog.