Sam Larue’s journey to Heller began while she was an undergraduate studying politics and sociology at Brandeis. She knew the next step in her career would involve a graduate degree, and the Heller MPP program checked all the boxes. Sam joined Heller in August 2023 and immediately felt right at home. “I’ve spent so much of my life here at Brandeis and have made such strong social connections,” says Sam, who recalls that the transition from undergraduate to graduate student was seamless. “The Heller community is so welcoming and supportive. Everyone is focused on not just the principles of social justice but also putting them into practice.”
Since entering the MPP program, Sam has become a fellow with the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, where she focuses on housing and special education policy. “I want to understand as many aspects of disability policy as possible,” says Sam. “There are so many ways that they connect—you never know when and where this knowledge might have an impact.”
As part of her fellowship, Sam is collaborating with Professor Alex Green from the Harvard Kennedy School to create a guidebook for disability-focused organizations to improve their systems and provide better support for disabled people. Sam says that working on this project has been one of the highlights of her professional career so far. “It’s a totally different environment when you’re surrounded with other disabled folks talking about disability issues. There’s a strong sense of community.”
For her capstone, Sam is working on a contract with the Southeast Center for Independent Living, funded by the Massachusetts Statewide Independent Living Council (MASILC), to coordinate independent living, housing, and housing policy projects with other independent living centers in the state. “I’m at a stage in my career where my professional life and my academic life are converging,” says Sam. Looking ahead to graduation, she hopes to continue working on the contract and influencing policies that will have a tangible impact.
Her advice for prospective Heller students is to be open to opportunities. “They won't always come in the most conventional ways,” says Sam. “You’re going to meet a lot of people along the way who can help you, but at the end of the day, you have the power to make the experience what you want it to be.”