Before coming to University of Iowa, Sam served as the Assistant Production Manager and Stage Management Coordinator for the Department of Theatre at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC).

Prior to her career in academia, Sam stage managed for Shreveport Opera, Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, Oberlin Summer Theatre Festival, University of Iowa Department of Theatre Arts, University of Iowa School of Music, Green Mountain Opera Festival, and the University of Maine. Some of her favorite credits include She Like Girls (UMBC), The Magic Flute (Shreveport Opera), Welcome to Thebes (UI), Rome Sweet Rome (UI), The Gondoliers (UI), and Avenue Q (UMaine).