Our Team

Samuel Gil is a native of Ville Platte, Louisiana, with a background in public policy, higher education, and government affairs. Growing up in Ville Platte, Louisiana, he developed a passion for public service and expanding opportunities for communities across the state. Before joining the Pelican Institute, Sam served as the student member of the Louisiana Board of Regents and as a two-term Student Body President at McNeese State University. His experience also includes serving as a Louisiana Governor’s Fellow and working at the Center for Renewing America in Washington, D.C., while participating in the Archer Fellowship Program.

Sam earned his bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from McNeese State University and his Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, graduating summa cum laude from both institutions. He was also a Rhodes Scholarship finalist and received the LBJ Foundation Award for Academic Excellence. Sam is passionate about building a Louisiana where the next generation can find opportunity and success without having to leave home.