Bio

My name is Sam Davis Omekara. I’m a Software Engineer at Microsoft on the Web Platform team. I have the privilege to work on arguably the most used software on the planet: the browser. I believe the browser is where a lot of Computer science concepts come to life. I find myself constantly trying to balance curiosity with not getting overwhelmed or stuck in rabbit holes. It’s amazing.

Before Microsoft, I studied Computer Science and Mathematics at Philander Smith University. There, I served as a Teaching Assistant, led teams to represent the college in national competitions, and graduated as valedictorian.

Today, my work spans accessibility and rendering in Chromium. I hold a Chromium committer status and have contributed about 200 changes in two years, collaborating with engineers across companies and participating in web standards as a member of the W3C CSS Working Group.

Outside of school and work, I gravitate toward community building. I support local small businesses through seasonal markets, help organize events for artists, and create spaces where people can come together. I’m also a supporter of Arsenal Football Club.

Sam Davis Omekara

Experiences

The Web Platform

I never used to think of the web as a “platform,” but working on Blink, Chromium’s rendering engine, that changed after I:

  • Implemented a cross-process pipeline so Blink can safely access system colors from the browser process.
  • Shipped Page Colors, a highly requested accessibility feature that lets low-vision users customize themes for more readable and legible web content.
  • Designed and implemented Gap Decorations, a top CSS platform feature that allows web authors to style gaps and gutters in grid, flexbox, and multi-column layouts.
  • Shared my work at the BlinkOn annual conference (twice) and contributed to W3C discussions at face-to-face meetings.

Chromium Commits · BlinkOn Talk · Chrome Blog · Change I’m Proud Of

Badge from BlinkOn 20 conference

Teaching & Education

For me, sharing knowledge is just as important as gaining it. I’ve deepened my own understanding by:

  • Serving as a Teaching Assistant for Calculus I & II, supporting Dr. Frank James in guiding students through challenging material.
  • Tutored Intro to Programming and Data Structures, often creating supplementary materials to help students succeed.
  • Worked in Philander Smith University’s Admissions Office, where I supported international students navigating the transition to higher education.
  • Partnered with Village Book Builders and QUADW Missions to mentor high school students in Chebosi, Kenya — developing a fun curriculum to strengthen their English through language games
Sam teaching Math on Whiteboard in 2020

Community

I believe we don’t exist in a vacuum so it’s important to be part of a community that means showing up, building connections, and helping others thrive. Some ways I’ve lived this out:

  • Served as a Resident Assistant for two years, helping students adjust and find belonging.
  • Supported a Seattle jewelry business (Rarity Bead) by organizing and strategizing operations for seasonal markets.
  • Partnered with collage artist NakAttack to coordinate events and connect with art stakeholders.
  • Led as Vice President of the International Student Organization at PSU, smoothing the cultural transition for new international students.
  • Founded and served as the inaugural President of Philander’s Computer Science Organization, laying the groundwork for collaborations with Arkansas’s tech hub and nearby universities.

Rarity Bead · NakAttack

Sam, with friends at an art community event.

Projects

  • Browser From Scratch
    · Rust
    Curiosity-driven project dive into how the web works by implementing a minimal browser from scratch using Rust.
  • Deep Learning from the Ground Up
    · TensorFlow, Python
    Dive into deep learning concepts, from perceptron to frontier models.
  • WSConnect
    · Swift, SwiftUI
    A mobile application aimed at connecting residents of Winston Salem to the city provided resources such as finding events, getting trash pickup dates, paying utility bills easily, and connecting with other elected officials.
  • EcoHome
    · Swift, SwiftUI
    A mobile application that puts management of household resources such as energy, waste and water at your fingertips.
  • FanXCEL
    · Swift, SwiftUI
    A mobile application prototype aimed to bring NFL closer to younger generation fans by using existing NFL sideline technology to grow fandom and boost engagement.

See all →

Research

Volunteering

  • Volunteer –
    Dunbar Historic Neighborhood Association
    (2022)
    Volunteered to participate in monthly clean ups for the preservation of the Dunbar Historic neighborhood in Little Rock, AR.
  • Mentor –
    The Opportunity Project
    (2023)
    Mentored college students in fellowship designed to empower college students to rapidly design data-driven digital solutions for the public good.
  • Volunteer Consultant –
    AAAS
    (2024)
    Participated in project development, screening process, rubric definition and program planning for the 2025 AAAS HBCU Maker Showcase.
  • Volunteer –
    NSBE
    (2025)
    Represented Microsoft at the NSBE25 conference, volunteered at the Media booth and spoke to current college students on various STEM career paths.
  • Codepath OSS Mentor –
    CodePath
    (2025)
    Mentor students and develop a curriculum for students to make their first contributions to OSS such as GitLab, Omi, etc.
  • Advisory Board Member –
    Wearable Tech Ventures
    (2025)
    Served in the board as an advisory member on implementing educational pathways for high school students looking to break into the wearables tech space.

Writing

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