Sam Agdasi

Sam Agdasi has more than 25 years of experience in higher education, including over 15 years in community colleges as a faculty member and academic administrator. His career has focused on student success, transfer pathways, STEM fields, career technical education (CTE), applied disciplines, faculty development, and academic program improvement. Sam has worked to keep educational programs aligned with transfer expectations and workforce needs while supporting institutional effectiveness, student achievement, and long-term academic outcomes.

Current Leadership in Business Education

Sam currently serves as Dean of the Business Education Division at Cerritos College in Norwalk, California. In this role, he provides leadership for the Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Paralegal, Real Estate, and Business Communication and Office Technology departments. His responsibilities include supporting program quality, academic innovation, and student outcomes. He works with faculty and staff to strengthen instructional delivery and ensure programs remain responsive to both student needs and regional labor market demands.

Academic Administration and Strategic Direction

Throughout his administrative career, Sam has managed a broad range of academic and operational responsibilities. His work has included budget planning, curriculum development, program review, and faculty support. He has also led dual enrollment initiatives and developed partnerships with K–12 districts, four-year institutions, and industry. These efforts have expanded access and strengthened transfer and workforce pathways. Through collaborative leadership and data-informed decision-making, he has supported enrollment stability, program sustainability, and student success across several academic areas.

Leadership Across Multiple College Environments

Before joining Cerritos College, Sam served as Dean of Student Learning for the Business & Industrial Studies Division and the Social Sciences Division at Compton College in Compton, California. He led a broad range of academic and workforce programs, including business, industrial trades, and social sciences. His background also includes leadership roles at large community colleges in California and at community colleges in the Midwest, including a multi-campus system.

Across these roles, he managed multi-million-dollar budgets, supported institutional and programmatic accreditation, and helped expand instruction through both traditional and online formats. His responsibilities included overseeing complex academic divisions and keeping programs connected to transfer requirements and workforce priorities. He also contributed to strategic planning efforts that linked academic programs with regional economic development goals.

Program Development and Curriculum Improvement

Sam began his higher education career as a faculty member and program chair. In those roles, he developed curricula and helped establish new academic programs. One significant initiative involved leading the development of a nanotechnology program supported by National Science Foundation (NSF) funding. The program brought together concepts from science, engineering, health-related fields, and applied technologies.

His career has also included participation in grant-funded initiatives supported by the National Science Foundation and workforce development programs such as Strong Workforce and Perkins. Through these efforts, he helped expand student opportunities involving internships, industry partnerships, and career pathways that connected academic preparation with workforce development.

Facilities Planning and Instructional Support

In addition to academic leadership, Sam has participated in facilities planning and large-scale instructional initiatives designed to improve equitable access to high-quality education. His involvement has helped align capital investments with long-term academic priorities and industry needs. These efforts have supported learning environments intended to improve student training and educational outcomes.

He has collaborated with institutional leaders and external partners on projects focused on strengthening instructional infrastructure and increasing access to quality learning spaces. His work in this area reflects the importance of connecting physical resources with academic programs so that facilities can support current educational needs and future development.

Engineering Education and Research Foundation

Sam holds a master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Purdue University and a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology. His education in engineering and applied sciences provides a technical foundation that continues to influence his work in academic leadership.

After completing his graduate studies, he worked as a Research Specialist in the Chemistry Department at Purdue University. In this position, he collaborated with an interdisciplinary group of researchers and further developed his analytical and problem-solving skills. His STEM background continues to support his work with programs in STEM, health, technical education, and other applied disciplines.

Expanding Access and Student Opportunity

As an immigrant and first-generation college graduate, Sam brings personal experience to his understanding of how education can influence opportunity. His professional work has focused on expanding access, supporting underserved communities, and developing academic and career pathways that can lead to meaningful educational and professional outcomes.

He has remained especially focused on helping students prepare for high-demand fields and pursue opportunities that can support long-term economic mobility. His work in transfer education, workforce programs, academic planning, partnerships, and student support reflects this continued commitment to access and achievement.

Community Service and Educational Outreach

Sam Agdasi has remained involved in community service and outreach throughout his career, including efforts related to education, public health, and community development. During the pandemic, he participated in initiatives involving COVID-19 vaccination clinics and helped coordinate faculty and student efforts to produce protective equipment for healthcare providers.

His outreach work has also included presenting information about emerging technologies to senior citizens, supporting STEM events for K–12 students, and serving as a judge for regional science and engineering fairs. Through these activities and other service initiatives, he has helped strengthen connections between colleges and the communities they serve while supporting public service and student involvement.

Professional Development and Recognition

Sam has participated in leadership development programs and received recognition during his career in higher education. He is a graduate of the "Great Deans" program offered by the Association of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA).

Earlier in his career, the Chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College selected him to participate in the Ivy Tech Leadership Academy. His contributions at Purdue University were also recognized through an Administrative and Professional Staff Advisory Committee Award, along with recognition for his service as a Wellness Ambassador.

Personal Life and Interests

Sam has lived and worked in Southern California and the Midwest, giving him experience with different educational settings and communities. He currently resides in Long Beach, California.