On Fridays this summer, the Daniels Newsroom is telling the stories of the behind-the-scenes staff who empower students, faculty and the College at large. Read past stories on our blog.
Stability defines Sam Thornton’s career. Adventure defines nearly everything else in her life.
At work, she values loyalty and comfort. In her personal life, she’s always moving and adventuring. She’s a “say yes” person, which is how she’s found herself ziplining, whitewater rafting, snorkeling and hiking all over the world.
“The thing about me is when I like where I work and the environment’s great, I don’t move. I stay there,” Thornton said.
That’s the truth, as Thornton is coming up on 22 years at the University of Denver and nearly seven years at Daniels.
Prior to DU, Thornton worked for 16 years at a check-printing facility, rising to become a department coordinator. She was working with customers and the printing machines themselves, staying with the company until it shut down for good. From there, she landed on DU’s Facilities team, moving over to Daniels in 2020 in search of more room to grow and learn.
The majority of her time at the College has been spent working in the Department of Business Information and Analytics, though she recently moved into supporting the Management and Marketing departments.
Why has she stayed at DU? The answer is simple.
“I stay at DU because I love DU,” she said. “The environment and the people.”
Chasing New Adventures
While she stays still professionally, Thornton is always moving and chasing new adventures in her personal life. She quickly recounts trips to Puerto Rico, Puerto Vallarta, California and Chicago. If there’s an outdoor activity to do while traveling, she’s tried it, often overcoming her fears in the process. It’s a defining characteristic for Thornton, who was born and raised in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood. She’s known as the explorer in her family, never turning down an opportunity to see the world.
A recent trip to Puerto Vallarta was highlighted by jet skiing, parasailing and a fear-defying snorkel trip. When the boat stopped offshore, everyone was encouraged to jump in. Thornton was nervous; she couldn’t see what was under the water.
“Just jump, Sam. Just jump,” she said, hyping herself up. And jump she did.
Now she has two specific items on her bucket list: catching fish at Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle and jumping out of an airplane.
Life in Denver
At home, Thornton channels her creative energy while raising her 9- and 4-year-old sons, whom she adopted at birth. She repurposes furniture, makes artwork, publishes poetry, designs Halloween costumes and names her houseplants.
She has Olivia, Linda, Edwina and Pearly May to name a few. But her favorite is Christian, a seven-foot giant that has followed her since the check-printing days.
“That’s my baby,” she said. “He has been chopped down four times, as he was just getting too tall.”
While Thornton’s personal and professional lives may look like opposites, there’s a lesson in the contrast. She knows when to stay still and when to jump.
Travel gives Thornton the freedom to chase something new. DU has offered something different: stability, community and a place she’s been happy to call home.