Pepperdine Alum Serves Community as Educator, Joins Posse Bay Area
Originally from Manila, Philippines, Rafaello (Rafa) Sampang grew up in Washington, D.C., where he was awarded the Posse Scholarship to attend Pepperdine University. Since graduating from Pepperdine, he has built a career of service as an educator. Last year, he joined Posse Bay Area as the site’s program director, bringing his youth-focused work full circle to serve the next generation of Posse Scholars.
While a student at Pepperdine, Rafa served in a wide range of leadership positions including as an intern for the Intercultural Affairs office and as a financial council member of the InterClub Council. He served two years on the Executive Board of Student Government as the VP of Finance and as Student Body President.
After graduating from Pepperdine, Rafa joined City Year LA as an AmeriCorps Member in the Los Angeles Unified School District. As a 7th grade teacher at Carver Middle School, Rafa emphasized a dual focus on the students’ academic and socio-emotional development, partly inspired by his own Posse training.
“For the past 12 years, I have seen Posse from many perspectives,” Rafa says. “As a Scholar, I gained faith in my success through a supportive network of trainers, mentors, and Posse peers. As an alum, I built confidence and pride in my place amongst a fellowship of diverse leaders across the country.”
Following his City Year term, Rafa worked at ARISE High School in Oakland, California, where he taught math. He also led social science electives in an anti-racist curriculum.
“Rafa leverages his Posse experience to shape and inform his work,” says Posse Regional Vice President Dr. James Dabney. “His intentional and passionate leadership led the Bay Area to an increase in Posse nominations this year. We have only seen the surface of his impact as a leader at Posse Bay Area.”
“It is a privilege to work with Posse Scholars,” Rafa says. “Just like it was for me 12 years ago, I hope we can give Scholars the tools they need to positively impact the world around them.”
