by 
Samantha Colunga was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley and grew up in Monte Alto, Texas. Throughout elementary and middle school in Monte Alto, Samantha always enjoyed science, hoping to one day become a marine biologist. Her dream career changed to an engineer and again changed to an environmental scientist. As a senior in high school, Samantha took an AP Environmental Science class, where her curiosity and passion for the environment ignited.
Samantha attended the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to study environmental science. There she met many amazing professors and fellow classmates all passionate about the environment, whether soil, water, plants, and air in agricultural and non-agricultural environments.
Samantha eventually met her research advisor, Dr. Engil Pereira, a few weeks before the pandemic. Despite the pandemic, Samantha gained valuable knowledge and experience in soil science throughout her undergraduate and graduate studies. During her studies, Samantha also participated in different internships, including with Brown University for climate modelling, the NRCS for conservation agriculture and soil health, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory for plant physiology under climate change.
Samantha received her bachelor’s in environmental science in 2021 and earned her master’s in agricultural, environmental, and sustainability sciences in 2024. Her master’s thesis project consisted of two projects focused on soil carbon sequestration under conservation tillage and reforestation, which are now two publications. Samantha’s research background covers soil carbon, semi-arid climates, sandy soils, conservation agriculture, soil health, and reforestation. Samantha was also a soil scientist with the USDA-NRCS in northwest Kansas, where she assisted with soil profile descriptions, wetland determinations, and playa restoration projects for groundwater recharge.
As the new Arroyo Colorado Watershed Coordinator, Samantha is now able to live closer to her family and be able to give back to the RGV community. Knowing the geological and agricultural history of the valley, she is eager to work with various stakeholders across the valley to help protect its natural resources. In her free time, Samantha enjoys being outdoors, whether for hiking, bird watching, jogging, or stargazing. She also loves to read and watch movies with her family. Samantha is a dog and cat lover, but she only has a cat named Kat.
