Samantha Palomino - Director of Student-Athlete Leadership Development - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Samantha Palomino

Title:
Director of Student-Athlete Leadership Development
Email:

Samantha returned to Kansas Athletics in 2026 after serving as the Manager of WIN for KC with the Kansas City Sports Commission. In that role, she supported all WIN for KC initiatives by leading event planning, logistics, and execution, while contributing to the development of programs aimed at empowering women and girls through sports and leadership.

Prior to her time in Kansas City, Samantha spent nearly three years at Kansas Athletics, first as a graduate assistant and later as the Coordinator for the KU Leads student-athlete development program. She facilitated leadership development programming, coordinated signature events, mentored first-year student-athletes, and led community engagement and recruiting initiatives. Samantha also served as the advisor for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), helping elevate the student-athlete voice and foster a culture of service and leadership within the department. During her time at Kansas, she earned her master’s degree in Education, Sport Management from the University of Kansas in May 2024. She was also selected to attend the NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar in 2023 and the NFL/NCAA Football Administrators Academy in 2024.

Samantha earned her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, where she was a member of the Islanders soccer team. A standout both academically and athletically, she earned Southland Conference All-Academic and All-Conference Second Team honors, served as SAAC president, and received the Islander Legacy Alumni Ring for her leadership and impact on campus. She also gained experience as a sports performance intern, supporting strength and conditioning efforts across multiple programs.

Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Samantha enjoys working out, attending concerts, and exploring new coffee shops in her free time.