Samuel Adepoju is a graduate of the MA in Political Science - United Nations and Global Policy Studies (UNMA) program at Rutgers University. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies with a Minor in Painting at Rutgers University–Camden. Samuel Adepoju is a dynamic changemaker and storyteller whose work spans international development, public policy, creative media, and nonprofit leadership. Many people have helped Samuel to get from where he was born in Nigeria, to where he is today. In his commitment to dedicate his life to service, he founded Some Painted Things, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating poverty through education and engagement. His organization has delivered meals to over 1,500 people across both domestically and abroad, and led arts and educational workshops in underserved schools in Colombia, and are planning to branch out to other countries in the near future. Samuel and Some Painted Things were featured in many news and media outlets for their work and impact during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At Rutgers, Samuel served twice as President of the Student Government Association in Camden while working in almost every department on campus in addition to serving as a member of the Camden Board of Directors, where he advocated for equity-driven solutions that bridged campus and community needs.Samuel also worked on what is now the Scarlet Promise Grant, being the first to share their story to raise funds for more student aid. He later became the Assistant Director of Special Projects for the Rutgers University Foundation, where he helped advance fundraising and donor engagement initiatives. Samuel now works for the Foundation as the Assistant Director of Life Stage Engagement. Prior to this, he was an intern and district representative for the U.S. Congress, supporting constituent services, public outreach, and fostering the connection between the D.C. and District office.
Samuel is also the founder of a production company, he has worked with major media brands including HBO. Most recently, he completed his first feature film, shot entirely in Colombia in collaboration with local students from the schools where his organization hosts programming, many of whom had never operated a cinema camera before. This project blended storytelling with cross-cultural collaboration, underscoring Samuel’s belief in the power of inclusive media and engagement to inspire and educate.
After graduation, he aims to expand his nonprofit, attend law school, and continue to produce transformative and meaningful engagement and initiatives that uplift underserved voices and communities through the help of others.