Sam Blackwell was a professional photographer. He taught at Lane Community College from 1968 to 2000. He taught communication skills in the English/Language Arts Department from 1968-1986 and co-authored a textbook for the course. He taught photography in the Mass Communications Department from 1968-1971 and in Adult Education (Continuing Education) from 1972-2000.

He has traveled extensively. As an instructor for TraveLearn, a travel/study program of Continuing Education, he taught photography and led tours to Alaska, Egypt, and the
Galapagos Islands of Ecuador.