Degree program: JD/MMA

Year accepted: 2023

Advisor: TBD

Research: Marine environmental law in environmental and social justice issues inherent to climate change
Background: B.A. in Marine Affairs, Minor in Oceanography, University of Rhode Island

Samuel R. Filiaggi grew up in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts before moving to a Chicago suburb. In 2015, Samuel returned to the East Coast to major in Marine Affairs at the University of Rhode Island. Samuel was drawn to Marine Affairs by his love for the ocean and his deep concerns about climate change and the environment.
While at URI, Samuel interned at the Inner Space Center, where he supervised broadcasts from remotely operated vehicles exploring the seafloor. Samuel also assisted Dr. David Bidwell with research into observations by recreational fishermen about the Block Island Wind Farm’s environmental impacts as a Coastal and Environmental Fellow. Samuel also participated in the Williams-Mystic Ocean and Coastal Studies Program, where he realized the importance of interdisciplinary problem-solving. In May 2019, Samuel graduated from URI cum lade with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Affairs and a minor in Oceanography, receiving an Academic Excellence Award for Work in Marine Affairs.
Following graduation, Samuel worked as a laboratory technician at Microbac Laboratories, where he performed water quality tests to evaluate wastewater treatments. During the pandemic, Samuel’s appreciation for public policy and its effect on public welfare grew, leading to his decision to apply to law school. In 2022, Samuel decided to attend Roger Williams University School of Law and earn both his Juris Doctor and Master of Marine Affairs by pursuing RWU Law’s joint-degree program with URI.
For the summer after his first year of law school, Samuel interned on the housing team at the Rhode Island Center for Justice, where he assisted clients facing eviction and poor living conditions. In his second year, Samuel externed with The Nature Conservancy’s and worked within their offshore wind team. The following summer, Samuel interned for the Alaska Section of the NOAA Office of General Counsel and conducted legal research concerning endangered species and fisheries management. Currently, Samuel is working as a Rhode Island Sea Grant Law Fellow on a project regarding coastal resilience on Block Island.
After completing his J.D. and M.M.A. in 2025, Samuel hopes to practice marine environmental law for a government agency or nonprofit working to address the environmental and social justice issues inherent to climate change.