Dr. Samantha Prince

Biography

Samantha Prince is an associate professor at Penn State Dickinson Law, focusing her research on outdated employee benefits laws that negatively impact workers in an evolving world. She has primarily written about 401(k) retirement benefits, earning recognition as an expert in company benefit schemes and retirement plans. Her goal is to shed light on current issues and advocate for change. For example, she has critically analyzed 401(k) plan rules and permissible vesting schedules, highlighting their negative impact on retirement savings when workers are transient. Her research sheds light on employee churn and how businesses like Amazon negatively affect workers of color, particularly concerning 401(k) savings. Furthermore, she advocates for employee benefits transparency to eliminate “benefits washing.” Professor Prince has contributed to discussions regarding taxation on abortion-related travel benefits and the classification of workers in the platform economy. With over 20 years of practical experience in legal and entrepreneurial realms, she has partnered with entrepreneurs and handled various business transactions. Professor Prince has also initiated student-led workshops and advises federal agencies on intersectional employment law issues.

Research Interests