Samantha Vargas Poppe joined RWJF in 2024. Her deep expertise and experience at the intersection of equity, programs, and policy, with a consistent throughline of health and wellbeing, are a testament to her dedication. Drawn to RWJF's long-term commitment to equity, she will help implement and advance work to support a new vision of economic inclusion that prioritizes and serves families so they can thrive.
Samantha holds a steadfast vision of a world that can be, one where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to reach their best health and wellbeing. She aligns her professional work with this guiding principle. As the founder of Equity Matters, LLC, Samantha guided national nonprofits in developing, strengthening, and operationalizing equity-centered approaches to support long-term, transformational change in our national systems. Before this, she served as the Director of the Policy Analysis Center at UnidosUS, where she contributed to setting and executing strategic goals and objectives for national and state policy agendas. Previously, she led teams focused on health programs and initiatives at the U.S. Government Accountability Office and The George Washington University. Her work injecting a critical equity lens has spanned critical systems, including health, the economy, housing, education, civil rights, and immigration.
Samantha's expertise and communication skills have earned her invitations to many speaking engagements and media interviews and resulted in the publication of many written reports and articles. She earned an MPH from George Washington University, focusing on health policy and racial and ethnic inequity, and a BA in Human Biology from Stanford University, focusing on social determinants of inequity.
Born in Los Angeles, she lives with her family and two dogs in Northern Virginia. In her free time, she actively supports and cheers on her kids' passions, tries new recipes, travels, and serves her communities. She has also served as a director or trustee on various nonprofit or State Boards.