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Now available for purchase!

An Inspirational story by
Bryan D. Samuel

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My Story

Bryan D. Samuel, Ph.D., is a seasoned higher education administration professional with more than 30 years of experience specializing in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. As a first generation,
minority student with a disability, he has utilized his scholarship and lived experience to enhance access
and opportunities for members of disadvantaged populations. His advocacy, strategies, and initiatives
have made significant improvements in institutional dynamics and a meaningful difference in the
individual lives of students, faculty, and staff.
Dr. Samuel is married and has two children. He resides in Huntsville, Alabama where he serves as the
Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at The University of Alabama in Huntsville.

About

AWARDS

Watch "Dr. Bryan Samuel - What Matters to Me and Why"

  • UTC Student Support Service (TRIO) Outstanding Contributions Award-December 2016

  • Chattanooga Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity Incorporated-Kappa Leadership League Scholarship Debonair Service Award

  • UTC Black Student Alliance Certificate of Appreciation 2015

  • UTC Horace Taylor Diversity Leadership Award, 2014

  • Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel TRIO Achiever Award 2010

  • Sigma Lambda Beta Distinguish Service Award 2005

  • University of Nebraska Central Administration Kudos Award 2005

  • University of Nebraska Central Administration Fellowship Award 2003

  • UNK Hispanic Student Association Certificate of Appreciation 2003

  • Ruffalo Noel Levitz Retention Excellence Award 2000

  • Affirmative Action and Minority Affairs Distinguished Service Award 2000

  • National Pan-Hellenic Council Distinguished Service Award 2000

  • Affirmative Action and Minority Affairs Distinguished Service Award 1997

Keynote Speeches/
Presentations/
Panelist:

  • Presenter: Meeting students where they are, Bailey Junior High School, 2022, Arlington, TX

  • Keynoter: You can do anything, Texas TRIO Association Student Leadership Conference, 2022, July, UT Arlington, Arlington, TX

  • Keynoter/Host: From Crisis To Strategic Planning: Student Voice and Wellbeing, 2022, Mentor Collective (virtual)

  • Presenter: Recruiting, Engaging and Graduating Diverse Students, 2020, Kansas State University

  • Panelist: Fulfilling the mission of higher education, Mentor Collective During COVID, September 2020 (virtual)

  • Presenter: Diversity and Inclusion Strategies, Cloud Community College, Concordia, KS (virtual)

  • Presenter: Enrollment Trends for Minority Students, Kanas Board of Regents, 2020

  • Presenter: Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace, Southeast Kansas Library System, 2020 (virtual)

  • Speaker: Losing Isaiah, a requiem on attrition, Spotlight K-State, 2020, Manhattan, KS

  • Facilitator: Recruiting a diverse faculty, Kansas Wesleyan University, 2019, Salinas, KS

  • Panelist: James R. Coffman Leadership Institute, 2019, Manhattan, KS

  • Presenter: The True Costs of Turnover, Big XII Chief Diversity Officers, 2019, Manhattan, KS

  • Keynoter: Ceasless Caterpillars or Beautiful Butterflies, Siena Heights University, National TRIO Day Program, 2019, Adrian, MI

  • Presenter: Why the drive to 60% is critical for Kansas, What Matters To Me and Why, 2018, Manhattan, KS

  • Presenter: Meeting students where they are, Sixth Annual NACADA Summer Undergraduate Academic Advising Institute, 2018, Manhattan, KS

  • Presenter: Mandator Reporter Training-Lessons Learned, UT, Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Summit, 2016, Knoxville, TN

  • Presenter: Building a House for Diversity, National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE), 2014, Indianapolis, IN

  • Keynoter: Of Crows and Eagles, East Lake Academy Commencement Exercises, 2011, Chattanooga, TN

  • Keynoter: Who’s in your fav five, Outstanding Senior Day, UT Chattanooga, 2009, Chattanooga, TN

  • Presenter: Diversity and Affirmative Action Plans as living documents, Tennessee College and University Professional Association of Human Resources (TN CUPA), 2009, Spring Hill, TN

  • Keynoter: Stepping Stones To Success, Connecticut Association of Educational Opportunity Programs (CAEOP), Wesleyan University, 2008, Middletown, CT

  • Presenter: The many forms of student loan debt burden, Nebraska Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, 2005, Kearney, NE

  • Presenter: NALFO and NPHC Greek Letter Organizations, Are they for you, Inaugural Cultural Unity Conference, 2003, Kearney, NE

  • Presenter: Scholastic Enhancement Program Learning Community-A residential approach to retention, National Conference on Retention of Students of Color, 1999, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

  • Panelist: Voices of the Culturally Diverse and their majority allies, Midwest meeting of Graduate Students in Personnel, 1997, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

  • Presenter: A holistic approach to student retention, 1997, First Year Experience Conference, Columbia, SC

My Books
In The Press
In the press
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 Dr. Samuel provides an in-depth description of situations and life circumstances that are barriers many first-generation, low-income students face each day. “Finding Myself,” inspired me to reflect on how I support my TRIO Upward Bound Math Science students.

Twyler Boykin, Director of Upward Bound Math & Science, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

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