Samuel Sanders, Jr.

Samuel Sanders, Jr., has served the City of Charlottesville as its City Manager since August 2023. He joined the City in 2021; previously, he served as the Deputy City Manager for Operations and provided oversight for Neighborhood Development Services, Parks and Recreation, Utilities, Public Works, Charlottesville Area Transit, and the City’s housing, grants, and redevelopment strategies.

Samuel and his wife Sheren relocated from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he served as the Executive Director of Mid City Redevelopment Alliance, an organization that focuses on revitalizing the city center where more than 40,000 people live. He is a graduate of Christopher Newport University and Troy University, and he holds degrees in English and Public Administration. He also completed the Achieving Excellence Program at Harvard University. 

Samuel’s career has been focused on helping people; he has consistently been a champion of people and a believer in providing access to anyone willing to take advantage of it. Sam has built relationships in the community with peer government leaders as well as statewide to help achieve what he sees as his purpose: to have a servant’s heart that fuels deliberate efforts to make a lasting impact.