Sam Agdasi is a higher education leader with more than 25 years of experience, including over 15 years in community colleges as both a faculty member and academic administrator. His career has focused on student achievement, academic planning, transfer pathways, STEM education, career technical education, and applied disciplines. He has worked across a range of academic environments, helping institutions strengthen programs, support faculty, and connect education with university transfer requirements and workforce needs. He currently serves as the Dean of the Business Education Division at Cerritos College in Norwalk, California. In this position, he provides leadership for Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Paralegal, Real Estate, and Business Communication Office Technology departments. His responsibilities include supporting academic quality, instructional improvement, student outcomes, and program development. He works closely with faculty and staff to ensure that programs continue to meet the needs of students while remaining responsive to changes in the regional labor market. Sam has extensive experience with the academic and operational responsibilities that support community college programs. His work has included budget planning, curriculum development, program review, faculty support, enrollment planning, and institutional improvement. He has also led dual enrollment efforts and developed partnerships with K–12 districts, four-year institutions, and industry. These collaborations have helped expand access and create clearer educational and career pathways for students. Before his current role, 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 leadership covered programs in business, industrial trades, and social sciences. He has also held administrative roles at large community colleges in California and at community colleges in the Midwest, including a multi-campus system. During these appointments, he managed multi-million-dollar budgets, supported institutional and programmatic accreditation, and helped expand instructional options through traditional and online formats. Sam entered higher education as a faculty member and program chair. His early career included curriculum development and the creation of new academic programs. He led the development of a nanotechnology program supported by National Science Foundation (NSF) funding, bringing together concepts from science, engineering, health-related fields, and applied technologies. He later contributed to additional initiatives supported by the National Science Foundation, Strong Workforce, and Perkins programs, helping expand internships, industry partnerships, and career pathways. His leadership experience also includes facilities planning and large instructional projects. He has participated in efforts to align capital investments with long-term academic and industry priorities. Through collaboration with institutional leaders and external partners, he has supported improvements to instructional infrastructure and learning environments designed to 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 research team and further developed his analytical and problem-solving skills. His background in engineering and applied science continues to shape his approach to academic planning and program development. As an immigrant and first-generation college graduate, he understands the impact education can have on personal and professional opportunity. His work has emphasized expanding access, supporting underserved communities, and helping students pursue academic and career goals. He has also focused on strengthening pathways into high-demand fields and creating opportunities that can contribute to long-term economic mobility. Sam has remained involved in community service throughout his career. During the pandemic, he supported COVID-19 vaccination clinics and helped coordinate faculty and student efforts to produce protective equipment for healthcare providers. His outreach has also included presentations to senior citizens about emerging technologies, support for STEM events involving K–12 students, and service 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, cares about animal welfare and wildlife, and enjoys reading history and watching classic films. As he continues his work in community college education, Sam Agdasi remains focused on student success, stronger STEM and CTE programs, effective partnerships, and academic opportunities that support meaningful educational and professional outcomes.