25 Women for 2024: Dr. Selika Sampson has a passion for community service
Dr. Selika Stackhouse Sampson left her hometown of New Orleans for Tallahassee in 1995 to attend Florida A&M University and study pharmacy, which she knew she would do since her junior year in high school.
“My mother was an educator, and every summer I would go to an enrichment program on the campus of Xavier University,” she said. She thought she might become a physician but, “that exposure made me decide to pursue a career on the front lines as a Doctor of Pharmacy.”
Twenty-nine years later, she reflects on a diverse career ranging from working with pharmaceutical companies to long-term care, community practice, managed care and academia. This combined with her current role as a mentor and advocate for future scholars has made her one of Tallahassee’s 25 Women You Need to Know.
Sampson currently serves as the Director of Continuing Education at the Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. “I am an ambassador of philanthropy and service. Professionally, I am a licensed consultant pharmacist with a passion for giving and community service. In all of my past and present practice settings, I always find a way to give back to the community,” she said.
As she develops collaborative partnerships with the business community, educational institutions, university departments, and government agencies to promote training for emerging pharmacy professionals, she has an eye on the future of pharmacy by maintaining compliance with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education and Florida Board of Pharmacy.
It was an honor for her to participate as an Inaugural Fellow in the 2022 Marion Stubbs Thomas National Leadership Academy. “I've had a passion for leadership and service since I was a little girl,” Sampson said. “It is a part of my personality DNA.”
Sampson has been a member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. for over a decade and currently represents the Southeastern Region as a Trustee to the Jack and Jill Foundation, where she enjoys being an active part of community engagement programs between the foundation and other nonprofit organizations.
“We are a mother’s organization for children between the ages of 2 and 19 with the goal of building leaders who are ready to give back to their communities as well as have strong academic and cultural backgrounds within the African American community,” she explains.
She has been a faithful supporter and member of the District Advisory Council for Leon County Schools, a member of FAMU National Diamondback Pharmacy Alumni Council, National Pharmaceutical Association, Delta Kappa Omega Chapter & Foundation of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated for more than 20 years.
“One of my favorite scriptures that resonates with me is, ‘to whom much is given, much will be required.’ I am aware of the blessing upon my life and I am compelled to share and empower others.”
When she is not working or volunteering, Sampson enjoys spending quality time at the beach with her husband and their four children whom she affectionately calls, “the Sampson Krewe.” “Our kids are each two years apart,” she said. Now young adults, she reminisces when they were younger, “everywhere we went we were a party of six, whether at soccer, softball, or school events. It has truly been a joy.”
It’s always time for celebration for the Sampson Krewe — this year they will celebrate one daughter graduating from college and another from high school, while her sons are sophomores in high school and college. “It’s full,” she laughs. When things calm down, she heads outdoors to jog the beautiful trails of Tallahassee, relax at the beach, and admire a Gulf view from the Forgotten Coast.
Every aspect of how Sampson lives her life is drawn from the influence that her mother had on her, from style to community involvement.
“She taught school in Orleans Parish Schools for over 25 years and was a proud woman all the way around,” Sampson said. “I have fond memories of being out on picket lines with my mom advocating for raises, and I knew I would be an active voter and never miss an election. And whenever I need to make a big decision, she always tells me to follow my heart.”
Sampson’s heart is easy to follow, as it is tied to so many elements of our community. Through her compassionate and thoughtful work ensuring professional paths for future pharmacists to the love and vibrancy she brings to her volunteer work and family, Sampson’s impact on Tallahassee is one that will last.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 25 Women for 2024: Selika Sampson has 'a passion for leadership'
