WOmen in the Armed Forces

11 am – 2 pm, Nov. 20 | Live Oak (Student Union)
Speakers/guests/partners: Sam Orozco and Screening of film “I am Vanessa Guillen” on Netflix followed by Q & A.
Free and open to the public. More information by email to fau.edu/pjhr or by phone at 561-297-4801

BIO

Sam Orozco is an established advocate and educator with over a decade of specialized experience in crisis intervention, violence prevention education, and the development and management of sexual harassment and sexual assault response programs. She earned both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Florida Atlantic University and is a proud alumna of the university’s Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program.

Sam launched her advocacy career in South Florida, leading county-wide violence prevention initiatives as an educator and advocate with a domestic violence non-profit in Palm Beach County. Her deep commitment to community-centered care brought her to North Carolina, where she expanded her efforts through local non-profit work and later served in higher education as a Crisis Intervention Specialist at North Carolina Central University.

In 2020, Sam realized her aspiration to serve as a civil servant, joining the Department of Defense as a government civilian. Since then, she has held several critical roles supporting military personnel and their families, including, Installation Victim Advocate for the Department of the Navy at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, Brigade Victim Advocate for the Department of the Army at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and Sexual Assault Sexual Harassment Response Specialist for the 11th Wing at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C. Following these roles, Sam served as the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator for both the Headquarters and Transatlantic Divisions of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, providing comprehensive advocacy, program oversight, and command guidance to support military and civilian personnel across the Washington Metropolitan Area and several overseas locations.

Currently, Sam continues her dedicated service with the United States Government, contributing her expertise to national efforts in the prevention and response of sexual harassment and sexual assault. Her work is firmly rooted in trauma-informed care, survivor-centered practices, and a deep commitment to equity and systemic change.