Welcome New Staff!

We’re so excited to welcome two new members to our team! Get to know Portia and Sam, below!

PORTIA POLK
Director of Learning & Advocacy

Hey Y'all! My name is Portia and I am thrilled to be joining the team at Generation Hope!

I'm a transplant from NC who has lived in Washington DC for 4 years and counting! I studied anthropology and peace, war, and defense at UNC Chapel Hill (Go Tar Heels!), then received my masters in public administration from American University. In between that time, I lived and worked abroad as a community development intern and English teacher in San Miguel Panama and I've held a wide range of jobs in the education field including as a high school college advisor for the Carolina College Advising Corps, a nonprofit that uses the near-peer model to place recent college graduates in high schools across NC to increase the number of low-income, first-generation college, and underrepresented high school students who enter and complete higher education. 

Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself to educational equity and advocacy for first-generation, minority and other underrepresented students and I was drawn to Generation Hope because they do the same. Most recently, I served as a program associate on the Postsecondary Success for Parents Initiative at Ascend at the Aspen Institute and I jumped at the opportunity to continue to serve this population at the local-level through Generation Hope. 

When I am not working, I'm a dedicated fish mom and avid cooker! I also enjoy singing and channeling my creativity into odd projects around the house. Most current project involves refurbishing old picture frames :) 

I am excited to continue my work with student parents at Generation Hope and I look forward to the journey ahead!

SAM SGOURAKES
College and Career Success Manager

Hi all!

My name is Sam and I’m super excited to be joining the Generation Hope family!

Although I grew up in Massachusetts and studied sociology and anthropology at Connecticut College, I haven't lived on the east coast in over eight years. After graduation, I lived abroad as an education specialist in the Peace Corps and then moved out west to attend the University of Colorado - Denver. In Denver, I earned my master’s degree in public administration and worked for various organizations that promoted, via direct service or advocacy, education equity. My most recent role was managing a post-secondary program that provided over 200 first-generation college students with scholarships and school-year support in north Denver.

Supporting students towards the attainment of their post-secondary degree, a credential now required for nearly 80% of sustainable jobs, has been an absolute joy, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of Generation Hope’s inspiring programs.

When I’m not working, as a bit more about me, you can find me running, trying to keep my plants alive, traveling, or binge-watching something of questionable quality on Netflix.

Again, I’m so excited to be part of this amazing team and to get to know all of our Scholars, Sponsors, and partners!