OCA Intern Alum: Samantha Ng
Written by Kent Tong
RAISED IN NEW YORK CITY BY CHINESE IMMIGRANTS, Samantha Ng’s involvement in the Asian American community was active since early childhood. She’s volunteered with Chinatown-based YMCAs, local nonprofit organizations serving the Chinese community in the city’s five boroughs, and acted as a youth advocate with the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families.
It was through a friend’s mother who used to be an active member of the OCA – New Jersey chapter that Ng learned about OCA and its national internship program. Upon her acceptance into the program in 2016, she was placed to work at the political and nonprofit consulting firm Arum Group LLC. There, she directly contributed to the office’s community and stakeholder engagement strategy by drafting executive-level briefing memos, planning stakeholder engagement events, and planning and executing digital audience engagement activations.
One memorable moment from Ng’s internship was having the opportunity to coordinate an all-day comprehensive campaign training at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. It was a rewarding experience because she was able to help give industry-leading campaign operatives a platform and microphone to share their experiences and shared learnings with aspiring leaders and campaign staff. “I saw firsthand how valuable a space like this was,” she recalls. “One that connects people to resources, tools, community, and support in a field where Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have been historically underrepresented.”
Samantha Ng (front, center) with her OCA summer internship cohort
The OCA internship program propelled Ng into a career in political campaigns and public service. Her internship placement supervisor and principal of the firm, Madalene Mielke, was the first boss she’s had who trusted her knowledge and skills and understood the importance of exposing her to the many facets of political campaigns, all while teaching her that inclusivity was a strength for building a better future. “Madalene helped me see that belonging was possible in politics,” she says. After graduating with degrees in Asian and Asian American studies and human development from Binghamton University, she's continued a career in public service—aided by the foundation laid by her academic and community experiences.
Over the years, Ng has held various roles in political campaigns and government. She’s held frontline fundraising roles with the Democratic National Committee, Biden for President, and on political campaigns in the New York City/New Jersey area. She was the deputy White House liaison at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, where she managed HUD’s portfolio of political appointees by providing strategic and operational management to senior leaders on personnel matters. And, more recently, she served as a special advisor at the Department of the Treasury, where she advanced the administration’s racial equity and economic opportunity priorities.
Why is Ng so passionate about public service? Because anti-gentrification, economic opportunity, workforce development, and caregiving and care for aging adults are all issues she resonates deeply with. “I’ve been impacted heavily by these issue areas in my own life,” she says. “And through my community, mentors, and academia, I’ve been able to see how I can be a part of affecting change.”