Sam Stanton, Neighbor

Sam Stanton, Executive Director of MKLM, joined Maryknoll Lay Missioners in 1985. During Sam&#39;s years with Maryknoll, he has worked extensively in rural ministry and social development projects in rural southern Chile. In his first stint in Chile he eventually became the director of the Social Services Department of the diocese of Linares, Chile. He worked diligently in the process of the plebiscite in Chile that eventually led to the country’s return to democracy. <br><br>In 1991 he was asked to come to NY as the director of the Maryknoll Lay Mission Program. During his time the program transitioned from being a program of the Maryknoll Society to being a separate entity within the Maryknoll Mission family.

Sam served on the first leadership team of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners (official title: Maryknoll Mission Association of the Faithful). In 1996 Sam and his wife, Cecilia and their family returned to Chile and to the diocese of Linares. Sam worked in social development programs and education. He also served as the Chile Regional Coordinator and the co-area coordinator of the Latin America Area for Maryknoll Lay Missioners.

Current Ministry<br>Sam Stanton was appointed Executive Director of Maryknoll Lay Missioners in June 2008. As MKLM&#39;s Executive Director, Sam is responsible for the organization&#39;s overall direction setting, planning, and evaluation of global operations. Sam graduated from Kansas State with a B.S. in Social Work and a minor in Sociology. Sam also attended graduate classes in Theology Studies at Notre Dame.