{{Short description|American political advisor, chef & news personality (b. 1980)}} {{about|former President Barack Obama's former Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition Policy|the creator of a selection game|Rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock}} {{Infobox person | name = Sam Kass | image = SamKass2009.jpg | caption = Kass in 2009 | birth_name = Samuel David Kass | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1980}} | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | alma_mater = University of Chicago (AB) | occupation = Chef, Nutrition Policy Consultant | party = | spouse = {{marriage|Alex Wagner|2014|2025|end=div.}} | children = 2 | parents = Valentine Hertz Kass<br> Robert Kass | family = {{nowrap|Helen Valentine (great-grandmother)}} }}
'''Samuel David Kass''' (born 1980) is an American political advisor, chef, and news personality, who served as President Barack Obama's Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition Policy, executive director for First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign, and as an assistant chef in the White House.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/12/08/white-house-announces-departure-sam-kass |title=White House Announces the Departure of Sam Kass |date=2014-12-08 |via=National Archives |work=whitehouse.gov |access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref> On July 29, 2015, NBC News announced the appointment of Kass as a senior food analyst, charged with covering topics such as healthy eating, food trends and policy on all platforms of NBC News.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Amy|first1=Scattergood|title=White House chef becomes NBC senior food analyst|url=http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-sam-kass-nbc-senior-food-analyst-20150729-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=29 July 2015 |access-date=29 July 2015}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Born in Chicago, Kass grew up in a Jewish family<ref>Adeena Sussman, [http://forward.com/articles/168392/-jewish-tastemakers-to-watch "5 Jewish Tastemakers To Watch"], ''The Jewish Daily Forward'', December 31, 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/37100/executive-dish The Tablet Magazine: "Executive Dish - Noshing at the White House, last month and through the years" by Joan Nathan] June 24, 2010</ref> in the Hyde Park neighborhood.<ref name="NYTSteinhauer">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/29/us/sam-kass-the-obamas-foodmaster-general.html?_r=0|title=Sam Kass, the Obamas' Foodmaster General|date=August 28, 2014|first=Jennifer|last=Steinhauer|work=The New York Times |access-date=September 1, 2014}}</ref><ref name="NYTKass">Rachel L. Swarns, [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/dining/04kass.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 "A White House Chef Who Wears Two Hats"], nytimes.com, November 3, 2009.</ref> His father, Robert, was a teacher at the private, co-ed University of Chicago Laboratory Schools who taught President Obama's daughter Malia Obama in the 5th grade.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ucls.uchicago.edu/uploaded/Files/Pages/LabLife_spring2015.pdf|title=Lablife|date=2015|website=Ucls.uchicago.edu|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref><ref name="SunTimesInterview">Lynn Sweet,[http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/11/sam_kass_white_house_chef_excl.html "Sam Kass, White House chef; exclusive interview"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906213731/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/11/sam_kass_white_house_chef_excl.html|date=2014-09-06}}, ''Chicago Sun-Times'', November 8, 2009.</ref> Kass' mother, Valentine (née Hertz), is a science educator at the National Science Foundation and previously served as the director of Omnimax productions at the Museum of Science and Industry.<ref name=SunTimesInterview /><ref>[http://www.friendsseminary.org/alumnicouncil?rc=0 Friends Seminary: "Valentine Hertz Kass ’64"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714150141/http://www.friendsseminary.org/alumnicouncil?rc=0 |date=2014-07-14 }} retrieved July 7, 2014</ref> His maternal great-grandmother, Helen Valentine, founded ''Seventeen'' magazine.<ref name=Massoni>Massoni, Kelley [https://books.google.com/books?id=xTrIDGiFG8wC&q=kass&pg=PA38 Bringing Up "baby": The Birth and Early Development of "Seventeen" Magazine] 2007</ref>
Kass attended high school at the Lab Schools,<ref>[http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/Felsenthal-Files/August-2013/Chicago-Native-and-White-House-Chef-Sam-Kass-One-of-DCs-Most-Beautiful-People/ Chicago magazine: "Sam Kass, the Chicago-Born White House Chef, Is One of D.C.’s Most Beautiful People" by Carol Felsenthal] July 31, 2013</ref> where he was on the varsity baseball team, and graduated in 1998.<ref name=SunTimesInterview /> He played baseball as a center fielder<ref name="vogue">{{cite web |url=http://www.vogue.com/865170/the-talk-of-the-town-alex-wagner-and-sam-kass-politics-it-couple/ |title=The Talk of the Town: Alex Wagner and Sam Kass—Politics' It Couple |publisher=Vogue |date=January 22, 2014 |first=Jacob |last=Weisberg |access-date=September 1, 2014 |archive-date=September 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140901091856/http://www.vogue.com/865170/the-talk-of-the-town-alex-wagner-and-sam-kass-politics-it-couple/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> on a scholarship at Kansas City Kansas Community College and later transferred to Triton College.<ref name=SunTimesInterview/> He graduated with an AB in history in 2004 from the University of Chicago,<ref name=NYTKass /> where he also played NCAA Division III baseball as a right fielder with a career .366 batting average, ranking among the best in program history.<ref>[https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/mr-kass-goes-washington NCAA: "Mr. Kass Goes to Washington"] October 4, 2013</ref>
During his junior year of college, Kass worked at the restaurant 312 Chicago under chef Dean Zanella. In 2003, Kass finished his senior year of college abroad, training under chef Christian Domschitz in Vienna, Austria.<ref name="StarChefs">{{cite web|author=Chefs Articles Jobs Photos Videos ICC Rising Stars |url=https://www.starchefs.com/cook/chefs/bio/sam-kass |title=Chef Sam Kass of The White House - Biography |website=StarChefs.com |date= |access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.menusofchange.org/advisory-councils/biographies/sam-kass|title=Sam Kass - Menus of Change - The Culinary Institute of America|date=|publisher=Menus of Change|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_23530410/healthy-harvest-white-house-chef-revels-garden-table|title=White House chef Sam Kass revels in garden-to-table eating, shares recipes|date=24 June 2013|website=Denverpost.com|author=|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref> He continued his training while traveling around the world, including to New Zealand, Italy, and Mexico, before returning to Chicago in 2006<ref name="StarChefs" /> to work at the restaurant Avec<ref name="NYTKass" /> under executive chef Paul Kahan.<ref name="StarChefs" />
==Career== In 2007, Kass opened his own personal chef company in Chicago, Inevitable Table, which focused on healthful and nutritious food.<ref name=StarChefs/> He then became the personal chef to the Obamas while Barack Obama was serving in the United States Senate.<ref>[http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/obamas-bring-their-chicago-chef-to-the-white-house "Obamas Bring Their Chicago Chef to the White House"], nytimes.com, January 28, 2009.</ref>
=== White House === In January 2009, Kass went to work at the White House Office as First Lady Michelle Obama's Food Initiative coordinator, and joined the kitchen staff as an assistant chef under executive chef Cris Comerford.<ref name=StarChefs/> In 2010, Kass was promoted to Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives.<ref>[http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2010/07/sam_kass_white_house_chef_and.html "Sam Kass, White House chef and policy advisor gets upgraded title"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415041148/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2010/07/sam_kass_white_house_chef_and.html |date=2014-04-15 }}, Chicago Sun-Times: July 15, 2010.</ref> In 2013, Kass was named Let's Move! executive director and promoted to Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition Policy.<ref name=StarChefs/>
In these roles, Kass assisted Michelle Obama in creating the first major vegetable garden at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt's victory garden.<ref name=StarChefs/> The garden did not use herbicides, pesticides, or chemical fertilizer.<ref name=NYTKass/><ref>Melanie Warner, [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-war-over-michelle-obamas-sort-of-organic-white-house-garden "The War Over Michelle Obama's Sort-of Organic White House Garden"], cbsnews.com, June 17, 2011.</ref><ref>David Alexander, [https://web.archive.org/web/20120411205019/http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2009/07/02/white-house-garden-lead-scare-a-bit-overblown/ "White House garden lead scare a bit overblown"], reuters.com, July 3, 2009.</ref>
Kass also assisted the first lady in her efforts to promote healthy eating and the prevention of childhood obesity.<ref name=StarChefs/> He was the chief architect of the Let's Move! campaign, which utilized private-sector partnerships to pursue the goal of reducing childhood obesity to 5% by 2030. He was named #11 on ''Fast Company'' magazine's 2011 list of 100 Most Creative People for his work with Let's Move!,<ref name=FastCompany>{{cite web|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3018417/most-creative-people-2011/11-sam-kass|title=#11: Sam Kass|website=Fastcompany.com|date=2011-05-18|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref> in particular for a five-year partnership pledge from grocery giant Walmart, which announced a commitment to build up to 300 stores in areas defined as "food deserts",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2011/07/20/walmart-to-open-up-to-300-stores-serving-usda-food-deserts-by-2016-more-than-40000-associates-will-work-in-these-stores|title=Walmart to Open up to 300 Stores Serving USDA Food Deserts by 2016; More than 40,000 Associates Will Work in These Stores|website=News.walmart.com|date=2011-07-20|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref> lower the price of its fruits and vegetables, and reduce the sugar, salt, and fat in its private-label products on its shelves.<ref name=FastCompany/>
Kass is a promoter of sustainable farming and locally grown and organic foods<ref name=NYTKass/> and is a critic of modern agricultural producers and fertilizer and pesticide companies.<ref name=NYTKass /> He has also railed against the national lunch program as "disproportionately high in fat, preservatives and high fructose corn syrup."<ref name=NYTKass/><ref>[http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/new-white-house-chef-skewers-school-lunches/ New York Times: "Obama’s New Chef Skewers School Lunches" By TARA PARKER-POPE] January 29, 2009</ref> Kass has been criticized for his unwillingness to acknowledge the benefits of pesticides and chemical fertilizers as well as the high cost of organic farming relative to corporate farming.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/dining/04kass.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 New York Times: "A White House Chef Who Wears Two Hats"], November 3, 2009.<br>"''After Kass said the White House garden would not use pesticides, the Mid America CropLife Association, an agricultural chemical trade group, urged Michelle Obama to acknowledge the benefits of conventional agriculture to families who lack the time or means to tend backyard gardens ... Jeffrey Stier of the American Council on Science and Health. ... said the Obama message was unrealistic for ordinary families who can't afford organic or locally grown food.''"</ref><ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B01EEDF163DF932A25752C1A96F9C8B63 "Correction": "The American Council on Science and Health, a consumer-education group that has criticized Mr. Kass for saying he would not use pesticides in the garden. The group is financed by various sources, including the food industry, foundations and private individuals; it is not solely financed by big food makers."], nytimes.com, November 11, 2009.</ref>
In 2012, Kass was named to the inaugural class of chefs in the American Chef Corps, a project he created with the US Department of State in conjunction with the James Beard Foundation to promote global diplomacy through culinary initiatives.<ref>[http://eater.com/archives/2012/09/10/us-state-department-reveals-the-american-chef-corps.php Eater.com: "US State Department Reveals the American Chef Corps" by Paula Forbes] September 10, 2012</ref> Kass made his first solo trip abroad for the program in July 2014, spending a week in the Republic of Korea. During his visit sponsored by the US Embassy and Brand USA, Kass promoted Let's Move!, met with culinary students, celebrated Independence Day at the US Embassy's party, learned to cook the traditional dish Bulgogi at the request of President Obama, and promoted culinary tourism to the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cafe.daum.net/usembassy/Ixmd/120|title=Daum 카페|website=Cafe.daum.net|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref>
In 2014, Kass requested to speak at the School Nutrition Association's convention in Boston. However, his request was denied due to Kass' advisory position at the White House and the strains between the association and the first lady.<ref>{{cite web|last=Daalder|first=Ivo|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/white-house-school-nutrition-association-108874.html |title=W.H. chef snubbed in food fight|publisher=Politico |date=2014-07-14 |access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref>
On December 8, 2014, the White House announced Kass' departure, issuing a statement in which Barack and Michelle Obama saluted his "tenure of dedicated service."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/12/08/white-house-announces-departure-sam-kass|title=White House Announces the Departure of Sam Kass|date=2014-12-08|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref> Barack Obama stated: <blockquote>From constructing our Kitchen Garden to brewing our own Honey Brown Ale, Sam has left an indelible mark on the White House. And with the work he has done to inspire families and children across this country to lead healthier lives, Sam has made a real difference for our next generation. Over the years, Sam has grown from a close friend to a critical member of my team, and I am grateful for his outstanding work and look forward to seeing all that he will continue to achieve in the years ahead.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/realitycheck/the-press-office/2014/12/08/white-house-announces-departure-sam-kass|title=White House Announces the Departure of Sam Kass|last=|first=|date=December 8, 2014|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|access-date=}}</ref></blockquote>Michelle Obama said: <blockquote>Sam has been an integral part of Let's Move! from its very beginning -- from discussions about children's health around my kitchen table in Chicago, to setting the strategic vision of a national campaign in the White House, to spearheading efforts with the private sector across the country. Sam leaves an extraordinary legacy of progress, including healthier food options in grocery store aisles, more nutritious school lunches, and new efforts that have improved how healthy food is marketed to our kids. I wish Sam success in all his future endeavors, and I know he will continue to be a leader in the vitally important work to build a healthier country.<ref name=":0"/></blockquote> His last official day at the White House was Friday, December 19, 2014.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
=== Post-White House === As of May 2015, Kass is a partner in Sprig, a meal-delivery service based in the San Francisco Bay Area, founded in 2013. He joined the project as an investor when Sprig announced a $45 million funding round.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/originals/ct-sprig-meals-launch-chicago-bsi-06092015-story.html|title=Sprig brings healthy meal delivery from Silicon Valley to Chicago|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref>
In July 2015, Kass was named a Director's Fellow at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://directorsfellows.media.mit.edu/fellow-profiles/sam-kass/|title=Sam Kass | MIT Director's Fellows|date=|website=Directorsfellows.media.mit.edu|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.media.mit.edu/people/s.kass/overview/|title=Overview ‹ Sam Kass — MIT Media Lab|date=2016-12-14|website=Media.mit.edu|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref> On July 29, 2015, Kass was appointed Senior Food Analyst at NBC News.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lo|first1=Karen|title=Former White House Chef, Nutrition Advisor Sam Kass Appointed NBC News Senior Food Analyst|url=http://www.thedailymeal.com/news/eat/white-house-chef-nutrition-advisor-sam-kass-appointed-nbc-news-senior-food-analyst/72915|access-date=August 1, 2015|agency=The Daily Meal|date=July 29, 2015}}</ref>
In November 2015, Kass delivered a TED Talk in Manhattan, titled "Want kids to learn well? Feed them well". TED Talks Live writes that, in this talk, Kass "discusses the role schools can play in nourishing students' bodies in addition to their minds".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ted.com/talks/sam_kass_want_kids_to_learn_well_feed_them_well|title=Sam Kass: Want kids to learn well? Feed them well|website=TED.com|date=5 January 2017 |access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref>
In October 2015, the James Beard Foundation honored Kass with its 2015 Leadership Award "for his work toward nationwide food-policy initiatives that focus on sustainable and nutritious ingredients, and efforts to raise awareness of childhood obesity, hunger, and nutrition issues."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jamesbeard.org/education/leadership/honorees|title=Honorees | James Beard Foundation|website=Jamesbeard.org|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref>
In January 2016, Kass launched a food technology company, TROVE, an investment, strategy, and communications consultancy created to "work with corporations both big and small who are serious about transforming our health, climate and planet through food."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.troveworldwide.com/what-we-do/ |title=WHAT WE DO â€" Trove |website=Troveworldwide.com |date= |access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref> In February 2016, ''Woman's Day'' magazine named Kass one of its Red Dress Awards honorees, an annual award for outstanding achievement in encouraging health and fitness.<ref>{{cite web|last=Carter|first=Maria|url=http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/g2102/2016-red-dress-awards-honorees|title=2016 Red Dress Award Honorees|website=Womansday.com|date=2016-01-26|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref>
In April 2016, California-based food technology company Innit, Inc. announced Kass had joined the team as its Chief Consumer Experience Officer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160403005037/en/White-House-Chef-Senior-Policy-Advisor-Sam|title=Former White House Chef and Senior Policy Advisor Sam Kass Has Joined Innit to Transform Cooking in the Home|date=2016-04-03|publisher=Business Wire|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref>
In May 2016, Kass became a partner in the newly launched venture capital fund Acre Venture Partners, a $125 million fund designed to inspire "collaborative disruption" with projects that focus on "transparency, health, and sustainability" in the global "food system".{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} Campbell Soup is the sole limited partner in the fund, which is independent of the packaged-food company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2016/04/04/sam-kass-campbell-soup-acre-vc-fund|title=Campbell Soup-Backed Fund Has Former Obama Advisor Sam Kass as Partner|website=Fortune.com|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref>
In March 2017, the World Economic Forum (WEF) named Kass to its 2017 Class of Young Global Leaders, intended to recognize people under the age of 40 who the WEF considers to be "pushing boundaries and rethinking the world around them."<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://widgets.weforum.org/ygl-2017|title=Young Global Leaders class of 2017|website=Widgets.weforum.org|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref>
==Personal life== In September 2013, Kass became engaged to MSNBC television anchor Alex Wagner.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/wp/2013/09/27/sam-kass-alex-wagner-engaged|title=Sam Kass and Alex Wagner are engaged|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=2013-09-27|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vogue.com/865170/the-talk-of-the-town-alex-wagner-and-sam-kass-politics-it-couple|title=Talk of the Town: Alex Wagner and Sam Kass – politics' "It" couple|publisher=Vogue|date=2014-01-22|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref>
After stepping down from his post at the White House, Kass moved to Brooklyn, New York.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grubstreet.com/2015/02/sam-kass-obama-chef.html|title=One Afternoon and Two Lunches With Former White House Chef Sam Kass|website=Grubstreet.com|date=2015-02-22|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref> On August 30, 2014, Kass and Wagner were married in a ceremony at the restaurant Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, New York. The President, First Lady, and their daughters attended the wedding.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2014/08/30/obama-sam-kass-alex-wagner-wedding/14880067|title=Obamas attend wedding of White House chef|website=Usatoday.com|date=2014-08-30|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref> In 2017, Wagner gave birth to their son, Cy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/alexwagner/status/893822680813719552?lang=en |title=Alex Wagner on Twitter |publisher=Twitter |date=August 5, 2018 |access-date=April 22, 2018 }}</ref> She gave birth to their second son, Rafael, on April 16, 2019. In 2025, Wagner announced that she and Kass are now divorced.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wagner |first=Alex |date=October 24, 2025 |title=Trump's Versailles |url=https://howthehellwithalexwagner.substack.com/p/trumps-versailles |access-date=October 30, 2025 |website=How the hell... with Alex Wagner}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fp%2FDNUMFQKxDnZ%2F%3Figsh%3DNGVkMWkzZGM1ZWxo&is_from_rle |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/author/Sam%20Kass Whitehouse.gov: Sam Kass] *[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/03/sam-kass-talks-cooking-first-family_n_1475885.html Huffington Post: Sam Kass Talks Cooking For The First Family (VIDEO)] May 3, 2012
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kass, Sam}} Category:American people of German-Jewish descent Category:Chefs from Chicago Category:1980 births Category:Date of birth missing (living people) Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:University of Chicago alumni Category:University of Chicago Laboratory Schools alumni Category:White House chefs Category:Kansas City Kansas Community College alumni