Sam Agdasi is a higher education leader with more than 25 years of experience, including over 15 years in community colleges as a faculty member and academic administrator. His professional background spans academic planning, student success, transfer preparation, STEM education, career technical education, and applied disciplines. Throughout his career, he has worked to improve program quality, support faculty, and align educational offerings with transfer requirements and workforce needs.
He currently serves as the Dean of the Business Education Division at Cerritos College in Norwalk, California. In this role, he provides leadership for Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Paralegal, Real Estate, and Business Communication Office Technology departments. His responsibilities include program oversight, instructional improvement, faculty support, and student outcomes. He also works with colleagues to help academic programs remain responsive to changing student needs and regional employment trends.
Sam has managed many areas of academic and operational leadership. His experience includes curriculum development, budget planning, program review, enrollment planning, and faculty support. He has also led dual enrollment initiatives and worked with K–12 districts, four-year institutions, and industry partners. These relationships have helped expand access to education while supporting stronger transfer and career pathways.
Before joining Cerritos College, he served as Dean of Student Learning for the Business & Industrial Studies Division and the Social Sciences Division at Compton College in Compton, California. His responsibilities included oversight of business, industrial trades, and social sciences. He has also held leadership positions at large community colleges in California and at community colleges in the Midwest, including a multi-campus system. His administrative work included managing multi-million-dollar budgets, supporting institutional and programmatic accreditation, and helping expand both traditional and online instruction.
Sam began his higher education career as a faculty member and program chair. During this stage, he developed curricula and helped establish new academic programs. He led the development of a nanotechnology program supported by National Science Foundation (NSF) funding. The program integrated concepts from science, engineering, health-related fields, and applied technologies. He also contributed to initiatives supported by the National Science Foundation, Strong Workforce, and Perkins programs, helping expand internships, industry partnerships, and career pathways for students.
His experience also includes facilities planning and larger instructional initiatives. He has contributed to projects designed to align capital investments with academic priorities and long-term industry needs. Through collaboration with institutional leaders and external partners, he has supported efforts to improve instructional infrastructure and create learning environments that meet current and future program needs.
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. After completing his graduate studies, he worked as a Research Specialist in the Chemistry Department at Purdue University. In that role, he collaborated with an interdisciplinary team of researchers and continued developing his analytical and problem-solving skills. His engineering background has remained relevant to his approach to academic planning and program development.
As an immigrant and first-generation college graduate, he brings a personal understanding of the value of educational access. His work has emphasized support for underserved communities, stronger academic pathways, and opportunities in high-demand fields. He has remained focused on helping students move toward educational, professional, and long-term economic goals.
Sam has also taken part in community service and educational outreach. During the pandemic, he supported COVID-19 vaccination clinics and helped coordinate faculty and student efforts to produce protective equipment for healthcare providers. He has also presented to senior citizens on emerging technologies, supported STEM events for K–12 students, and served as a judge for regional science and engineering fairs.
His professional development includes completing the "Great Deans" program by the Association of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA). Earlier in his career, he was selected by the Chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College to participate in the Ivy Tech Leadership Academy. He also received an Administrative and Professional Staff Advisory Committee Award at Purdue University and recognition for his service as a Wellness Ambassador.
He has lived and worked in Southern California and the Midwest and currently resides in Long Beach, California. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he supports his elderly mother, has an interest in animal welfare and wildlife, and enjoys reading history and watching classic films. As his career continues, Sam Agdasi remains focused on student success, academic improvement, stronger STEM and CTE programs, effective partnerships, and educational pathways that support meaningful long-term outcomes.
Discover more Sam Agdasi photos below:
https://samagdasi.blogspot.com/2026/06/sam-agdasi-student-success-leadership.html
https://www.behance.net/gallery/251883521/Sam-Agdasi-Professional-Photo-Gallery
https://www.quora.com/profile/Sam-Agdasi/Sam-Agdasi-Higher-Education-Leadership-Gallery
https://www.pinterest.com/samagdasi/sam-agdasi-professional-photo-gallery/
https://500px.com/p/samagdasi/galleries/sam-agdasi-photo-showcase
More about Sam Agdasi links below:
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=1700630
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=1205105
Compton College honors top students at scholarship awards ceremony
https://scholargps.com/scholars/10794634679332/sam-agdasi
Sam Agdasi on Academic Leadership and What Leaders Need to Build a Thriving Educational Environment
Sam Agdasi Discusses Practices for Building a STEM Program
Empowering Student Success: Sam Agdasi on Career Pathways
Applying for a Grant: Academic Leader Sam Agdasi on What to Know About the Pursuit of Grant Funding
