Kari Sampson

Kari joined Washington State University’s College of Education as the Director of Development in July 2023.  She has nearly 20 years of recruitment, retention, and fundraising experience at WSU. From 2004-2009, Kari served as WSU’s Women’s and Men’s Assistant Golf Coach.  She then transitioned in Student-Athlete Development and served as the Coordinator for Career Development, Community Service and Team Academic Advisor for rowing, soccer, volleyball and swimming.  In 2015, Kari made a move across campus and joined the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) as its Assistant Director of Recruitment and Retention, where she assisted with outreach and retention programs for the college’s 22 undergraduate programs. In 2018 she joined the Division of Student Affairs external relations team, where she has served in an external relations and fundraising role for the last five years.

Interwoven throughout Kari’s professional career at WSU, is her deep passion for WSU, the student experience and the immense value of higher education.  According to Kari, “Washington State University is a special place where students obtain an amazing education and lifelong connections.  It is a place where acquaintances become friends and friends can also become family.  Not every institution has this feel.  I take pride in helping create this atmosphere for our current and future Cougs. Being a part of the College of Education, allows me the opportunity to connect with amazing alumni who often reflect on their time at WSU and the unique ways WSU and the College of Education has deeply impacted their lives through our various programs and services. To then find ways to align their passions with some of our direct and current student needs, only to enhance the student experience for future Cougs, is my happy place.  It is the gift that keeps on giving to an institution that I love!”

In her spare time, Kari enjoys traveling, finding any place she can plant her feet in the sand by a body of water, and playing golf with her husband, Jason, and their daughter Faith.  As first-generation graduate of the University of Washington, former women’s golf student-athlete, and academic scholarship recipient, Kari still has one more higher education accolade she wishes to complete on the east side of the state – becoming an officially Adopted Coug.