Sam Agdasi is a higher education administrator with more than 25 years of experience, including over 15 years in community colleges as a faculty member and academic administrator. His career has focused on student achievement, academic program quality, transfer preparation, STEM education, career technical education, and applied disciplines. He has worked to support faculty, improve academic programs, and strengthen connections between college instruction, university transfer expectations, 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 planning, instructional improvement, faculty support, and student outcomes. He also works with faculty and staff to keep programs responsive to student needs and regional labor market demands.

Sam has experience overseeing curriculum development, budget planning, enrollment planning, program review, and other academic operations. He has also led dual enrollment initiatives and developed partnerships with K–12 districts, four-year institutions, and industry. These efforts have helped strengthen educational access, transfer pathways, and career preparation for students.

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 leadership covered business, industrial trades, and social sciences. He has also held administrative positions at large community colleges in California and at community colleges in the Midwest, including a multi-campus system. His experience includes managing multi-million-dollar budgets, supporting accreditation, and expanding both traditional and online instruction.

Sam began his career as a faculty member and program chair. During this period, 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 brought together science, engineering, health-related fields, and applied technologies. He also contributed to projects supported by the National Science Foundation, Strong Workforce, and Perkins programs, helping expand internships, industry partnerships, and career pathways.

His leadership background also includes facilities planning and large instructional initiatives. He has participated in efforts to connect capital investments with long-term academic and industry needs. Through collaboration with institutional leaders and external partners, he has supported projects designed to strengthen instructional infrastructure and improve access to effective learning environments.

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. Following graduate studies, he worked as a Research Specialist in the Chemistry Department at Purdue University. There, he collaborated with an interdisciplinary research team, further developing his analytical and problem-solving skills.

As an immigrant and first-generation college graduate, he understands how education can create new opportunities. His work has emphasized access, support for underserved communities, and pathways that help students pursue academic and career goals. He has also focused on opportunities connected to high-demand fields and long-term economic mobility.

Sam has remained involved in community service and 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 work, he supports his elderly mother, has an interest in animal welfare and wildlife, and enjoys reading history and watching classic films. As he continues his work in higher education, Sam Agdasi remains focused on student success, academic quality, stronger STEM and CTE programs, effective partnerships, and educational pathways that support long-term student outcomes.