Samantha Calvin
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Mail code: 3020Campus: Dtphx
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Dr. Samantha Calvin is a faculty member at Arizona State University, where she has worked since 2013 and taught since 2015. She teaches across multiple programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Community Health, the Master of Science in Healthcare Innovation, and ASU's Universal Learner Courses, with a focus on healthcare systems, culture and health, innovation, leadership, and human trafficking.
Dr. Calvin earned her PhD in Nursing and Healthcare Innovation from Arizona State University, as well as a Master of Science in Healthcare Innovation and an MBA with an emphasis in leadership and healthcare. Prior to joining the faculty, she worked in healthcare research and community-based health initiatives through Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic–ASU collaborations, leading projects focused on obesity prevention, health promotion, and health equity among diverse and underserved populations.
Her current research and service work focuses on human trafficking, homelessness, adverse childhood experiences, and healthcare access among vulnerable populations. Her doctoral research examined the lived experiences of trafficked adults experiencing homelessness and explored opportunities for healthcare systems to better identify and support survivors.
In addition to her teaching and research, Dr. Calvin provides community education and professional training on human trafficking, with a particular emphasis on healthcare settings. She has delivered trainings for healthcare systems, professional organizations, academic institutions, and community partners across the United States. Through this work, she seeks to improve awareness, strengthen trauma-informed responses, and enhance the capacity of healthcare professionals to recognize and respond to exploitation.
Dr. Calvin is also actively involved in community-engaged initiatives that expand educational access and improve outcomes for underserved populations, including justice-involved youth and individuals experiencing homelessness.
Education
PhD - Nursing and Health Care Innovation - Arizona State University
MBA - Leadership & Healthcare Emphasis - Arizona State University
M.S. - Healthcare Innovation - Arizona State University
B.S. - Health Sciences - University of Minnesota
A.A. - Criminal Justice
A.S. - Biological Sciences
Human trafficking, homelessness, healthcare access, health equity, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), social determinants of health, trauma-informed care, vulnerable populations, healthcare provider education, community-based research
Courses
2026 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
| BIO 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
| HCI 552 | Financing for Innovation |
| HCI 552 | Financing for Innovation |
| HCR 310 | Fundamentals Human Trafficking |
| HCR 310 | Fundamentals Human Trafficking |
2026 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
| HCI 552 | Financing for Innovation |
2026 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
| HCI 552 | Financing for Innovation |
| BIO 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HCI 552 | Financing for Innovation |
| HCR 310 | Fundamentals Human Trafficking |
| HCR 310 | Fundamentals Human Trafficking |
2025 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
| BIO 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
| HCI 552 | Financing for Innovation |
| HCI 552 | Financing for Innovation |
| HCR 310 | Fundamentals Human Trafficking |
| HCR 310 | Fundamentals Human Trafficking |
2025 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
2025 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
| BIO 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HCR 310 | Fundamentals Human Trafficking |
| HCR 310 | Fundamentals Human Trafficking |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
| BIO 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
| HCR 310 | Fundamentals Human Trafficking |
| HCR 310 | Fundamentals Human Trafficking |
2024 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
2024 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
| BIO 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HCR 310 | Fundamentals Human Trafficking |
2023 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
| BIO 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
| HCR 310 | Fundamentals Human Trafficking |
| HCR 310 | Fundamentals Human Trafficking |
2023 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
| HCR 331 | Communication Within Commun |
| BIO 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HCR 310 | Fundamentals Human Trafficking |
2022 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
| BIO 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
| HCR 310 | Fundamentals Human Trafficking |
2022 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
2022 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
| HCR 400 | Evd-Bsd Prac Hlthcare Prof |
| HCR 435 | Leaders in Community Health |
| HCR 435 | Leaders in Community Health |
| BIO 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| HCR 310 | Fundamentals Human Trafficking |
2021 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
| HCR 331 | Communication Within Commun |
| HCR 310 | Fundamentals Human Trafficking |
| HCR 210 | Ethics HealthCare Professional |
2021 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
| HCR 231 | Fund of Comm Health |
| HCR 231 | Fund of Comm Health |
Podium
- Recognize, React, Respond: Essential Human Trafficking Training in Education. Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital. February 2026. Los Angeles, CA.
- Recognize, React, Respond: Essential Human Trafficking Training in Education. Hospital Association of Southern California. August 2025. Los Angeles, CA.
- Our Small World: The Intersection of Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence, and Trauma. SCAHRM’s 44th Annual Educational Conference. Keynote Address. May 2025. Palm Springs, CA.
- Literacy Partners Project. Student Success Conference. October 2023. Phoenix, AZ.
- Recognize, React, Respond: Essential Human Trafficking Training in Education. Empowering Communities and Inspiring Youth Conference. March 2023. Phoenix, AZ.
- Recognize, React, Respond: Essential Human Trafficking Training in Healthcare. Banner Neurology Grand Rounds. Phoenix, AZ.
- Recognize, React, Respond: Essential Human Trafficking Training in Healthcare. Phoenix Children’s Grand Rounds. December 2023. Phoenix, AZ.
- The Most Notorious Monster: The Jeffrey Epstein Case. Project ECHO. February 2022. Phoenix, AZ.
- Conspiracy Theories & Human Trafficking. Human Trafficking Council. Office of the Governor. October 2020. Phoenix, AZ.
- Conspiracy Theories & Human Trafficking. Phoenix Police Department Training. September 2020. Phoenix, AZ.
- Cultivating Hope, Healing, and Health in the Lives of AdolescentFemale Human Trafficking Survivors. International Human Trafficking, Prostitution and Sex Work Conference, 2016. Toledo, OH.
- Red Flags: Missing the Signs of Human Trafficking in the Clinic. International Human Trafficking, Prostitution and Sex Work Conference, 2017. Toledo, OH.
- Human Trafficking: Dispelling myth from reality. Arizona Nurses Association, 2018. Invited Speaker.
Posters
- Sleep, Diet, and Physical Fitness Among Adolescent Female Victims of Sexual Abuse. Submitted to ISSR at Arizona State University, 2016.
- Sleep, Diet, and Physical Fitness Among Adolescent Female Victims of Sexual Abuse. WIN Conference, 2016. Anaheim, CA.
- Red Flags: Missing the Signs of Human Trafficking in the Clinic. WIN Conference, 2017. Denver, CO.
- Human Trafficking and the Emergency Department. WIN Conference, 2018. Spokane, WA.
- Review of Published Curriculum on Human Trafficking for Undergraduate Medical Trainees. American Medical Women’s Association, 2019. New York, NY.
Linda Kay Johnes Scholarship, 2017-2018
Spirit of Service Scholars, 2015-2016
All-USA Scholar, 2010-2011
Western Institute of Nursing, 2015-Present
- Spring 2026 Internships Supervised:
- Daniel Beaupre (BS in Community Health), Katie Hopkins (MHI)
- Fall 2025 Internships Supervised:
- Daniel Beaupre (BS in Community Health), Elizabeth Wakefield (BS in Nursing), Jhade Hunt (MHI)
- Spring 2025 Internships Supervised:
- Maythe Soto Martinez (BS in Healthcare Coordination), TionTai Woods (BS in Community Health), Miriam Bravo Cruz (BS in Community Health), Edie Guthrie (BS in Community Health)
- Kallee Schwan, Barrett Honors Thesis Co-Director
- Fall 2021-Spring 2023, title: Healthcare and Human Trafficking: An Analysis of the Global Implementation of Trauma-Informed Care.
- Karina Quintana, College of Biological Sciences, Barrett Honors Thesis, Director
- Spring 2020-Spring 2021, title: The Next Generation of Sex Buyers: Gen Z’s Porn Usage and It’s Effect on Demand for Sex Trafficking.
- Lauren Wilson, College of Biological Sciences, Master’s Thesis, Co-Chair
- Fall 2020-Spring 2021
- Brittani Ashlyn-Miller, University of Arizona Medical School Scholarly Project, Director
- Spring 2019-Spring 2022
- Hanna Conrad, Edson College of Nursing & Health Innovation, Director
- Fall 2019-Fall 2020
- Mary McNamara, W.P. Carey School of Business, Barrett Honors Thesis, First Reader
- Spring 2019-Spring 2020
- Lauren Wilson, College of Biological Sciences, Barrett Honors Thesis, Co-Director
- Spring 2019-Spring 2020
- JamieLee Richardson, College of Health Solutions Barrett Honors Thesis, Co-Director
- Spring 2017-Spring 2019
- Aliya Kahn, University of Arizona Medical School Scholarly Project, Co-Director
- Fall 2015-Spring 2019: A Needs Assessment of Sex Trafficked Female Adolescents to Improve Health Outcomes and Inform Practice
- Sienna Anderson, College of Health Solutions, First Reader
- Fall 2017-Spring 2018
- Pranav Menon, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Co-Director
- Fall 2017-Spring 2018
- Frances Giedraitis, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Co-Director
- Fall 2017-Spring 2018
- Kaitlyn Felix, College of Health Solutions Barrett Honors Thesis, Co-Director
- Fall 2016-Spring 2018
- Lindsay Gibson, Barrett Honors Thesis, Co-Director
- Fall 2015-Spring 2016: South Phoenix Community-Based Needs Assessment
- Audrey Elms, Barrett Honors Thesis, First Reader
- Fall 2015-Spring 2016: Using Photovoice to Understand Food Choice among Adolescents in Underserved Communities in Phoenix
- Logan Winter, Microbiology Research Paper, Director
- Spring 2016: Understanding the Microbiome of the Gut: Links to Autism
Phoenix Dignity Project
Founder & Executive Director
Mission statement: Empower every person, regardless of background or circumstance by creating pathways toward belonging, healing, & human connection
- Creates and distributes ‘dignity bags’ that include hygiene items, snacks, and water for people living unsheltered in the Phoenix metropolitan area
- Coordinates a team of volunteers to deliver necessary hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and food to any individual or family who cannot safely leave their home or space due to fear, transportation issues, and/or disability
- Hosts yearly signature events for families and individuals living unsheltered and/or below the poverty line including a December Holiday Market (groceries, gifts, hot chocolate), quarterly spa-day events (manicures, pedicures, facials), and more
Maricopa County Immigrant Children & Communities Coalition
- Participates in collaborative meetings, contribute ideas and subject-matter input, and stay current on community initiatives to support immigrant children and families
Crisis Text Line
Volunteer Crisis Counselor
- Responds to people in crisis, bringing them from a hot moment to a cool calm
- Actively listens to provide support for individuals
- Provides resources that best match the crisis and need
- Engages in collaborative problem solving and safety planning
But You Don’t Look Sick
Board Member
- Assists in supporting this non-profit that provides financial assistance to adults and children to cover the cost of prescription drugs, insurance, copays, deductibles, premiums and other out-of-pocket healthcare expenses
Social Spin Foundation - Education Department
U.S. Department of Justice - Office of Justice Programs
Vice Chair - Community Leadership & Outreach, Junior League of Phoenix