Chloe Justice Samuel听鈥25 听
B.A., Public Health, B.A., General Economics
Hometown: Huddleston, Va.
As an orientation leader for three years, Chloe Justice Samuel gave the same advice to incoming students: embrace the moments. Now, with a degree in public health and economics, she鈥檚 doing just that鈥攃arving a path in emergency management to help others through life鈥檚 hardest moments.
Disasters have shaped Samuel鈥檚 life. Growing up in Connecticut, she lived without power for two weeks due to Hurricane Sandy. Later, during her two-hour commute to Hollins, she passed communities still suffering from Hurricane Helene. In high school, she earned certificates as a certified nursing assistant and certified patient technician, eventually working through COVID at Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center in Virginia.
Samuel found her calling in Introduction to Public Health with assistant professor and department chair Abubakarr Jalloh. 鈥淗is positivity and the way he structured classes for listening, learning, and applying knowledge inspired me to pursue a public health major,鈥 she says. She went on to join Jalloh鈥檚 COVID handwashing research, presenting their findings at the 2023 Hollins Student Performance and Academic Research Conference (SPARC).
A double major with extensive research and leadership experience, Samuel served as president of the Public Health Outreach Club, leading campus-wide efforts like a period poverty awareness campaign. In 2025, she presented her economics honors thesis on Appalachia鈥檚 disaster vulnerability at multiple regional and statewide emergency management conferences and completed a summer internship with Bedford County Emergency Management.
Samuel also performed as a cellist in the Valley Chamber Orchestra, hosted by Hollins. 鈥淗ollins is empowering,鈥 she says. 鈥淪mall classes and engaged professors taught me to speak up.鈥
When government emergency management positions open in December, she鈥檒l be ready鈥攖o embrace the moment once again.
Favorite Hollins Tradition
鈥淚 never missed one First Step ceremony. I loved seeing the seniors鈥 excitement and spirit and their gowns. For mine, I stitched together my husband鈥檚 and my high school robes and added the Public Health Outreach Club鈥檚 logo鈥攁 hand with a lotus flower鈥攐n the back.鈥
Highlights
- Public Health Capstone: 鈥淐ommunity Health Assessment for Los Angeles County, California鈥澨
- Economics Thesis: 鈥淔inancial Preparedness and Recovery: Analyzing the Economic Vulnerability of Appalachia Virginia to Natural Disasters鈥澨
- Student Researcher, public health department, 鈥淗andwashing Before, During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Analysis of College Students鈥澨
- Orientation Team Leader听
- Public Health Outreach Club President听听
- Executive Director Intern, Bradley Free Clinic听
