The 2026 CEIA Engagement Fellows

Samantha “Sam” Carmer, New College of Florida

Samantha (Sam) Carmer, CCSP is the Assistant Director of Internship Programs and a Career Coach with the Center for Career Engagement & Opportunity at New College of Florida. She holds a B.A. in History from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Curriculum and Instruction (Student Affairs) at the University of South Florida. Sam leads high-impact, equity-centered experiential learning initiatives, including the award-winning Community-Driven Internship Program (CDIP), which provides funded, academically rigorous internships with local nonprofit organizations. She also oversees the Pathways to Teaching program, a partnership with Sarasota County Schools and the School District of Manatee County that offers paid, semester-long K–12 classroom internships and a direct pathway to alternative teacher certification. As the dedicated career coach for international students, Sam supports CPT and OPT processes and works closely with International Student Services to support international and queer students in their post-graduation transitions. A nationally Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP), she co-instructs Professional Experience by Design, an internship course that provides academic credit and prepares students for career-ready success.

Chelta Wray, Crystal Bridges

Chelta Wray is a people centered program and project manager whose work is rooted in expanding access to meaningful career pathways and strengthening the ecosystems that support emerging talent. A graduate of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, she brings more than a decade of experience in workforce development and talent engagement to her role at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and The Momentary.

Before entering the museum field, Chelta worked for the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, a regional organization that oversees federally funded workforce development programs across more than a dozen cities and counties in southeastern Virginia, connecting businesses with skilled talent and providing employment, training, and youth services for job seekers of all ages. During her time there, she supported youth career readiness, employer partnerships, and large scale workforce initiatives aimed at preparing emerging professionals for meaningful employment opportunities.

Today, Chelta leads an internship program that spans more than 30 departments at Crystal Bridges and The Momentary, building the systems, structures, and partnerships that help individuals step into their potential. Her work includes designing recruitment and onboarding processes, supervisor training, strategic program development, and advancement pathways that center equity and intentionality.

Chelta’s mission is to create environments where people are seen, supported, and given the tools to grow. She believes in designing programs that don’t just place individuals into opportunities but empower them to thrive within them. Drawing on her experience managing regional youth initiatives and workforce development systems, she continues to build accessible, high impact pathways that elevate talent and strengthen institutions. At the heart of her work is a belief that when organizations invest thoughtfully in people, they expand what’s possible for communities as a whole.