Samantha Rappuhn

Purdue 2016

"I am hope." 
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Samantha at Purdue

Samantha initially believed biomedical engineering was the path she wanted to pursue, but she discovered that she especially enjoyed writing creatively. Although she wasn’t interested in making creative writing her career, she decided to explore Professional Writing and found a field that suited her interests.

Professional Writing offered Samantha the opportunity to combine her love of writing with a more technical, structured approach. She soon developed a clear five-year plan, and Purdue gave her the confidence and reassurance to trust her path without feeling that she was falling behind.

Within the program, Samantha found a strong sense of community and built lasting connections with her peers. Professor Bradley Dilger was a consistent source of encouragement, and she remains grateful that he continues to support her accomplishments long after graduation.

Samantha After Graduation

Samantha spent six years living in Kokomo, Indiana, working full-time as a grant writer for Ivy Tech Community College. Today, she lives in Columbia, Maryland, where she works as a grant manager under a contract with a statewide Ivy Tech office.

In her current role, Samantha oversees the grant-writing process from beginning to end, including initial research, coordination with subject matter experts, and grant management and reporting.

Her Advice to Incoming Students

"Be in the moment, and do what you're meant to be doing right now. Don't be overwhelmed. You can go so many directions within the English Department. You can start with one path and find your way without too many missed steps."