Sam Friedlander
About Sam Friedlander
Sam Friedlander is an Advocacy and Policy Specialist currently working at Sesame Workshop in New York. With a background in international development and education, Friedlander has held various roles in organizations such as the International Rescue Committee and Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab.
Current Role at Sesame Workshop
Sam Friedlander serves as an Advocacy and Policy Specialist at Sesame Workshop, a position held since 2021. In this role, he focuses on developing and implementing advocacy strategies that align with the organization's mission. His work involves collaborating with various stakeholders to promote educational initiatives and policies that support children's learning and development.
Previous Experience at International Rescue Committee
Prior to his current role, Sam Friedlander worked at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in various capacities. He served as an Adult Education Volunteer from 2017 to 2018 for nine months in the Greater Atlanta Area. Additionally, he held internships at IRC, including an Adult Education Intern for four months in 2017 and an Economic Empowerment Intern for four months in 2016. His experiences at IRC contributed to his understanding of educational and economic empowerment for vulnerable populations.
Career at Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)
Sam Friedlander worked at the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) in multiple roles. He was a Senior Policy Associate to the Executive Director for one year from 2020 to 2021 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Prior to that, he served as a Policy, Communications, and Research Associate to the Executive Director for two years from 2018 to 2020. His work at J-PAL involved supporting research and policy initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty.
Educational Background
Sam Friedlander holds a Master's degree in International Development Practice from Emory University, where he studied from 2016 to 2018. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania, studying Linguistics, International Development, and Creative Writing from 2012 to 2016. Additionally, he studied Human Rights and Educational Linguistics at the School for International Training from 2014 to 2015.
Internship Experience
Throughout his career, Sam Friedlander has gained diverse internship experience. He worked as a WASH Communications Intern at Partners In Health for two months in 2017 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He also served as a Youth Education Intern at the Nashville International Center for Empowerment for three months in 2015. These internships provided him with practical skills in communication and education within different cultural contexts.