He worked with the policy director at the OJPC, a non-profit founded by civil rights attorney Al Gerhardstein ’73. The OJPC’s mission is to “create fair, intelligent, redemptive criminal-justice systems through zealous client-centered advocacy, innovative policy reform, and cross-sector community education.” Samuel conducted research, analyzed data, and created materials to support the OJPC’s lobbying on state bills connected to the justice system. In particular, he worked on a project examining taser usage in correctional facilities in Ohio and comparing that with the policies of neighboring states. Samuel was also able to tour a correctional facility, the Ohio Supreme Court, and the local judiciaries in Cincinnati and Columbus. His internship was funded through the Common Grant and generous support from alumni donors.

Reflecting on his internship, Samuel says he gained a deeper insight into the U.S. criminal-legal system. “I clearly saw that additional work is needed to ensure justice and dignity are accessible to everyone. I found that the experience was incredibly valuable and allowed me to gain sharper policy analysis skills, as well as learn how to critically analyze the structural problems in our society and how to sensibly approach them.”

This fall, Samuel is doing a second stint as an intern with Wisconsin State Representative Vincent Miresse. In Spring 2025, he mainly worked on constituent services, but in his current role he is working on policy issues.

A double major in political science and health and society, Samuel spent 2024 studying abroad at Freie Universität in Berlin, Germany. He took the opportunity to travel to The Hague, Turkey, and Georgia, where he studied the 2024 parliamentary election; he presented this research at the Beloit Student Symposium. In the summer of 2024, he interned at the Hertie School as a research intern for health policy and economics.