Sam Vance

Sam Vance specializes in strategic learning, evidence capacity building, and mixed-methods research to improve human services delivery, primarily food assistance and workforce development programs.

She uses her expertise to help agencies enhance their service delivery, processes, and policies to better meet the needs of practitioners and families through behavioral science practices and evidence-informed decision making.

Vance serves as the site lead for the Rapid Cycle Evaluation of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training programs in Massachusetts. As site lead she directs efforts to build evaluation capacity, design evidence-informed interventions, and foster participant engagement to better understand the needs and preferences of SNAP clients. She also supports evaluation and technical assistance efforts for the Family Self-Sufficiency Demonstration Development grant recipients. In this role, she coaches three sites on building research capacity and applying the Learn, Innovate, and Improve framework for program improvement. Vance has also provided technical assistance to State Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and SNAP programs, co-creating and leading Motivation Driven Leadership and Goal4 It! trainings across multiple counties in Ohio and Colorado.

Since joining Mathematica in 2021, Vance has contributed to several projects including the Evaluation of Employment Coaching Programs, Human Service Needs and Disaster Displacement, and Responsible AI Use in Public Programs, funded by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation to help agencies in the Administration for Children and Families deepen their capacity for using evidence.

Drawing from Vance’s experience working with the City of Chicago's Department of Family and Support Services, she brings valuable insights into creating quality employment and training opportunities for people and families with low incomes. She has expertise in convening community partners, assisting clients in accessing education and employment services, and managing grantee and employer relations for workforce development programs.

Vance is passionate about leveraging private sector innovations and strategies to improve public service delivery. She holds an M.B.A. from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, where she focused on methods for expanding the U.S. social services network by increasing public and private support.