DSLS alumna Samantha Holland Hughes attributes career success in public administration to opportunities at USF

The Dean’s Student Leadership Society (DSLS) offers networking, leadership, and philanthropic opportunities for students in the College of Arts and Sciences. For ambitious student, and now alumna, Samantha Holland Hughes, it became the ideal community for like-minded individuals.

Having spent her early years in Massachusetts, Hughes relocated to Jupiter, Fla. just before starting high school. In the summer of 2012, she moved to Tampa where she began her first semester at USF majoring in interdisciplinary social sciences, with concentrations in public administration and political science.

Established in 2013 by former CAS Dean Eric Eisenberg and Michele Dye, former head of communications and marketing, the DSLS organization was created with the goal of creating an identity for the college through student leaders. These students would serve as a link between alumni, faculty, and community leaders not only within USF but beyond. Even at its infancy, the organization started to draw in highly motivated students, including Hughes.

“I was a student employee in the CAS Development office and was introduced to the idea of DSLS during my sophomore year at USF. I really liked the idea of how DSLS was service-oriented and brought together a group of students with similar passions, work ethic, and goals. After returning from a semester interning in Washington, D.C., I applied to DSLS my junior year and was inducted in 2015,” Hughes said.

Reflecting on her early involvement in DSLS, Hughes recalls her interactions with Eisenberg. While she initially got to know him in her previous role as a student employee, she emphasized how their relationship flourished after joining the organization.

“Dean Eisenberg was a great resource during my time at DSLS. I enjoyed the time I got to spend talking with him about academics, life, and other relevant topics. Although I got to know him during my time working in the CAS Development office, during my time in DSLS is when I really got to be more involved in different CAS events such as the Dean’s Advisory Council meetings,” Hughes explained. “Eisenberg was always great about introducing me to colleagues and giving me the opportunity to network, which I always enjoyed. He was also instrumental in my graduate school journey. Not only did he write letters of recommendation for me to the various schools I was applying for my Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, he also was a great mentor in helping me navigate the decision-making process.”

DSLS students actively participate in various events throughout the college, the most notable being the Frontier Forum lecture series. Among Hughes’ most notable memories from her time in DSLS, was from this event where she had the opportunity to engage with speaker and actor, George Takei.

“We were able to eat birthday cake with him after the event in the green room!” Hughes said.

Apart from DSLS, Hughes participated in two internships to make the most of the opportunities at USF. The first was with the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. through The Washington Center, and the second was with the Tallahassee Internship Program, where she worked with a lobbying firm on state policy issues. Both experiences were facilitated through the School of Public Affairs.

“One of the things that I really tried to do was take advantage of my time at USF. I remember sitting there thinking, ‘I can graduate in three years, but why don't I do some internships to get real world experience?’ I participated in two different internship programs when I was at USF, and each of these opportunities allowed me to get involved with both federal and state level policy work,” Hughes explained. “These internships really helped me develop my interest in government affairs and health care policy and as someone who's always sought a challenge, I figured, ‘Why not pick one of the most complicated policy topics of health care?’”

After graduating from USF in 2016, Hughes relocated to Washington, D.C. embarking on her MPA program at American University. She attributes her success during this time to the skills she learned while a part of DSLS, particularly in time management and prioritization which proved essential as she juggled her master’s program while working a full-time job.

After earning her degree, Hughes progressed through various roles ultimately arriving at her current position as a Senior Policy Manager at Genentech.

“In my role, I work to identify, assess, and communicate key public policy issues that may have an impact on Genentech and the biotechnology industry, particularly focused on public payers such as Medicare and Medicaid. I achieved this role through a lot of hard work, being open to new professional opportunities, and having conversations with peers and mentors in the biotechnology industry,” explained Hughes. “My first experiences with health care public policy stemmed from my internship experiences at USF, where I was exposed to public policy while in the Tallahassee Internship Program. I further explored that interest when I was in my MPA program, first working at the national office of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, followed by a few years of consulting before transitioning to my current job at Genentech.”

Currently residing in Washington, D.C., Hughes shares a home with her husband David and their dog, Ellie. She enjoys traveling, discovering new restaurants, and has embraced the sport of long-distance running. Having completed several half marathons, she is preparing for a second full marathon this November.

Reminiscing on her time at USF, Hughes highlighted the importance of seizing every opportunity, particularly those provided through DSLS.

“I would tell students to take advantage of every opportunity. One of the best parts about DSLS are the various opportunities to connect with other students and alumni that you normally wouldn’t have the opportunity to outside of the organization. DSLS really offered a supportive circle of peers and mentors who shaped my trajectory and helped me get to where I am today,” Hughes said.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this past January, the DSLS organization now looks ahead to the future. The newest class was welcomed during the induction ceremony held on April 5, 2024. Explore the gallery to view event photos.

To learn more about the Dean’s Student Leadership Society, please visit their website.