The Untold Story of... Samantha Faiella '09

1. I graduated from Siena in 2009. While I have a lifetime of amazing memories, some of my favorites came from my internship in London at an all-women Solicitors firm. I was often in court at the same time as Paul McCartney and we presented a case to the Court of Appeals where the judge and barristers wore wigs.
2. Studying abroad in London sparked my love for exploring new places and cultures. My last big trip was to Italy with my husband. We rented a car and spent almost three weeks driving from city to city. We met up with my husband's family and shared many amazing experiences. One of our favorite unexpected parts of the trip was enjoying the Autogrill rest-stops along the way!
3. I was an AmeriCorps VISTA in Albany for two years, working at the poverty level and serving non-profits. I learned so much through that experience and it made a life-long impact on who I am and how I see the world.
4. I grew up in the Capital Region and spent my summers on Sacandaga Lake. There is nothing more peak-summer to me than a day on the lake, grilling for dinner, and spending your night with loved ones and friends under the stars by the fire.
5. While Upstate will always be home, half of my heart is still in NYC where I lived for 10 years. I stand by Mammas Too having the best pepperoni slice in the city!
6. I have a one year old baby boy named Vito. He truly lights up my life and has brought our family so much joy…but if you see me with Starbucks in hand, now you know why!
7. I also have a cat named Milo that I adopted in 2012, which makes him about 68 years old in human years. While I am not sure that a baby joining our family was part of his retirement plans, he seems to somehow enjoy the extra cuddles and wrestling.
8. I love to read! While I really have to work at finding quiet time these days, getting lost in a good story always recharges me.
9. I also love podcasts! Good Hang, Wiser than Me, and Smartless top my favorites. They make me laugh and I always end the episode learning something new and feeling more connected in this big crazy world.
10. My husband and I are really into National Parks. We have visited 11 National Parks and hope to visit all of them in our lifetime. We got engaged in Haleakalā National Park above the clouds at sunset and we traveled to the Utah parks, Yellowstone, and Grand Tetons in a truck that had a tiny camper on top. We love a sunrise hike and making friends in the parking lots while cooking breakfast.

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