A photo of Samai wearing a black dress and a blue graduation sash. She is holding a graduation gap and is outside with trees behind her.

Samai Wilson

Admission Ambassador

A photo of Samai wearing a black dress and a blue graduation sash. She is holding a graduation gap and is outside with trees behind her.

Samai Wilson (she/her/hers) 
Program: MIA  
Concentration: Development and Governance 
Hometown: California

Samai Wilson ’27 is a second-year Master of International Affairs candidate at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), concentrating in Development and Governance. Most recently, Samai spent the summer in Cairo, Egypt, as a Global Africa Gateway Fellow with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), where she supported work related to labor mobility, development finance, and private-sector engagement across Africa and the Middle East.

Before coming to SIPA, Samai graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she earned bachelor's degrees in History and Political Science. Her undergraduate research focused on Liberia, including an honors thesis examining the country's relationship with the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. While at UCLA, she also gained experience in public service and the legal field, including an internship with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

At SIPA, Samai has continued exploring her interests in African development, governance, and international affairs while engaging with the broader SIPA community. Outside of academics and work, she enjoys traveling, dancing, creative writing, and exploring New York City. She looks forward to connecting with prospective students, sharing her experiences at SIPA, and helping them navigate the admissions process.