Samantha Higgins
Samantha Higgins serves as Director of Public Health for East Central District Health Department, where she oversees the department’s day-to-day public health operations, programs, staff, and community partnerships across Boone, Colfax, Nance, and Platte counties.
Samantha joined East Central in May 2025 as Emergency Response Coordinator, leading emergency preparedness planning, staff training, risk assessments, exercises, and coordination with first responders and community partners. Before joining East Central, she spent nearly a decade with the City of Columbus as a Telecommunications Specialist, supporting 911 communications, multi-agency dispatch, training, certification, and quality assurance.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Security Management and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health in Emergency Preparedness through the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Samantha brings a strong background in public service, emergency preparedness, interagency coordination, and operational leadership to her role and is committed to strengthening public health services and partnerships throughout the district.
In her spare time, Samantha enjoys spending time with her two children and her dog. Samantha enjoys reading, hiking, and learning about history.
