Samantha Fisher

Samantha helps education organizations design and execute strategies that improve student outcomes, strengthen operations, and support sustainable growth across complex and evolving environments.

Lasting impact in education comes from aligning strategy, operations, and innovation around what matters most: student success and institutional sustainability.”

About Samantha

With over 20 years of experience in management and strategy consulting, Samantha has advised more than 70 colleges, universities, K-12 districts, and education agencies across the U.S. and internationally. Her work spans strategic planning, digital and AI strategy, mergers and acquisitions, market entry and growth, student experience improvement, and performance management and budget redesign. She brings a global perspective and a practical approach to helping institutions navigate change and deliver measurable results.

Throughout her career, Samantha has:

• Led enterprise-level strategic planning efforts for colleges and universities, helping leadership teams align priorities, resources, and operating models to support growth and long-term sustainability.
• Advised institutions on digital and online growth strategies, expanding access and improving student experience through new program models and delivery approaches.
• Redesigned the end-to-end student journey at multiple higher education institutions, reducing pain points through organizational, process, and technology recommendations.
• Guided higher education organizations through mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships, supporting evaluation, integration planning, and execution.
• Designed and implemented operating model transformations that improve decision making, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Developed performance management and budget redesign frameworks that strengthen financial sustainability and align investments with institutional priorities.

Prior to joining Huron, Samantha served as managing director and global education industry lead at Accenture. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles at EY-Parthenon and Accenture, advising education and nonprofit organizations on strategy and operations. She also held operational leadership roles at EF Educational Tours, where she launched and led the organization’s first Asia office.

Samantha was named one of the Top 25 Education Consultants and Leaders of 2023 by The Consulting Report.

Samantha earned her Master of Business Administration from INSEAD and a Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University.