Amir Samandi is the founder and Executive Director of Students of Service (SOS), a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to developing
global citizenship in youth through local servicelearning and meaningful travel abroad experiences. He founded SOS in 2014 with the goal of empowering young people to make a positive difference in the world. His background in international affairs and education, including working in the San Antonio public school system and at St. Mary’s University, informs his
leadership at SOS, allowing him to use his firsthand knowledge to mentor the next generation of global leaders.

Amir was a 2020-2021 German Marshall Fund Memorial Fellow and was named one of San Antonio’s 40 Under 40 by the San Antonio Business Journal in 2018. He lives in San Antonio with his wife and two sons, and they enjoy traveling together!