Samantha Lankowicz (BS, 2024)

Samantha Lankowicz graduated with an Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences BS from the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences in 2024. Samantha became an undergraduate team leader for the NASA IMPACTS (Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast Threatening Snowstorms) field campaign, led by Dr. Brian Colle. Samantha was also accepted into the NOAA National Weather Service Pathways Program, working at the NWS Headquarters in Silver Spring on IDSS (Impact-Based Decision Support Services) projects and with the Hydrologic Services Division at Eastern Region Headquarters. In addition, she has volunteered at the NWS Forecast Office of New York, NY, served as a Public Relations Officer and the Vice President of the Stony Brook Meteorology Club, created weekly forecasts through the “Seawolves Storm or Not” student broadcast course, and attended the American Meteorological Society, Tri-State Weather, and Northeastern Storm Conferences multiple times while also being an AMS Student Conference planning member.

Following her time as an undergraduate, Samantha obtained an MS in Science Communication from the School of Communication and Journalism. Her thesis focused on the evaluation of how highly vulnerable communities in NYC receive extreme weather information. She used the findings in her studies to assist the National Weather Service and science communicators in reaching out to broader audiences and addressing barriers identified. Additionally, Samantha presented this research at the 2026 American Meteorological Society Conference, and now has a permanent position at the NWS Forecast Office in Albany, NY.