Donette O. Samuel ’14

OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD

This award is given to alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years and who are emerging leaders in their fields.

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Donette Samuel is a Senior Public Affairs Specialist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She oversees external engagement for high-priority projects across New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. She first served as a Community Involvement Coordinator for hazardous waste sites, then as a Special Projects Coordinator and Special Assistant to the Office of the Regional Administrator. In 2022, Donette earned EPA’s highest honor award for implementing a precedent-setting community engagement process when addressing concerns at the Toa Alta Landfill in Puerto Rico.

Before EPA, Donette was a Global Health Ambassador with the U.S. Peace Corps to the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health. While serving with the Peace Corps, Donette tripled community engagement, reduced waiting room time, and improved delivery of care at two rural health centers in Manabi. Donette's work engaging community members contributed to one of the health centers receiving Ecuador's Most Improved Health Centers award in 2018.

Donette earned a Master of Public Health from the State University of New York at Albany and a Bachelor of Science in Public and Community Health from Ithaca College. 

While at Ithaca College, Donette's favorite memories included performing "A Proposito de la Duda" at the United Nations with the Teatro class in 2013 and opening for R&B artist, Goapele, at Cornell University with the Spit That! Poetry Club in 2012. Donette's most valuable experiences included developing her professional writing skills with Career Services and honing her personal finance skills with the HEOP/CSTEP Program. 

Donette resides in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and son.

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