Sam studied for his Bachelors in History at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and graduated in 2013. His thesis examined ideas of masculinity and violence in the 19th century American South. More broadly, he is interested in how individuals and groups construct identities, as well as the role of history in contemporary politics and society. His non-academic interests include mountaineering, skiing, music, and whisky.