Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Samantha Elliott Briggs has earned a doctoral degree in Instructional Leadership and a master’s degree in Women’s Studies from The University of Alabama, as well as a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Clark Atlanta University. With nearly 30 years of experience in education and a particular passion for social justice education, Briggs has served as a classroom teacher, curriculum writer, consultant, director of non-profit education programs, grant writer, and grant evaluator. Most recently Briggs served as the Director of GEAR UP Alabama -- a $60million grant funded by the US Department of Education and awarded to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The goal of GUA was to significantly increase college and career readiness/participation among students from high-poverty communities in Alabama's Black Belt. Currently, Samantha serves as the Vice President of Education for the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute where she leads the archives, curation, exhibition and education team. Samantha is also partner in PEACE Education Consulting; The Southern Center for Broadening Participation in STEM; and HELLO TANA. Her curriculum and periodicals have won national awards. Samantha was named National GEAR UP Professional of the Year (2020), was appointed as a National GEAR UP Commissioner (2019-2021), and was a finalist in the CBS-42 Remarkable Women of Alabama campaign (2021).