Samantha Koon is an experienced marketing and communications practitioner, educator, and nonprofit leader. She currently serves as the director of The Hoeft Technology and Management Program, an academic minor offered jointly by the Gies College of Business and the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois. In this role, she leads program strategy development, student recruitment, industry engagement, and classroom education for students in the program.

Prior to joining the Hoeft T&M program, Samantha worked for more than 20 years leading the marketing and communications function for several non-profit and higher education organizations, including University of Illinois Extension, Millikin University, the International Society of Arboriculture, and the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University.

Samantha lives in Monticello, Illinois, with her husband and daughter. She is actively involved in a variety of community and professional associations. Along with her husband, Samantha currently owns and manages the Zybell House, a vacation home for travelers to Central Illinois. She also teaches communications and entrepreneurship courses at the University of Illinois.