In the field of community college education, Sam Agdasi has established a career marked by leadership, service, and a consistent focus on student advancement. He brings over 25 years of experience in higher education, including more than 15 years in community colleges, where he has served as a faculty member, program chair, dean, and senior academic administrator, including service at the vice president level. Across these roles, he has concentrated on advancing student success, strengthening transfer pathways, supporting STEM fields, expanding career technical education (CTE), and guiding applied disciplines. His work has emphasized aligning academic programs with transfer requirements and workforce needs while maintaining a strong commitment to institutional effectiveness and long-term student outcomes.

Sam currently serves as the Dean of Student Learning for the Business & Industrial Studies and Social Sciences Divisions at Compton College in Compton, California. In this position, he provides leadership for a broad set of academic and workforce programs, including business, industrial trades, and social sciences. His leadership emphasizes program quality, academic innovation, and student outcomes. He works closely with faculty and staff to strengthen instructional delivery and promote continuous improvement across programs, ensuring they remain responsive to student needs and regional labor market demands.

His current role includes oversight of many operational and strategic functions. These include budget planning, curriculum development, program review, and faculty support. He also leads dual enrollment initiatives and develops partnerships with K–12 districts, four-year institutions, and industry partners. These efforts help expand access and reinforce both transfer and workforce pathways. Through collaborative leadership and data-informed decision-making, he has contributed to program sustainability, enrollment stability, and student success across a range of disciplines.

Before joining Compton College, Sam Agdasi held leadership positions at large community colleges in California and in the Midwest, including within a multi-campus system. In those roles, he managed multi-million-dollar budgets, supported institutional and programmatic accreditations, and expanded instructional delivery through both traditional and online modalities. His experience includes leading complex academic divisions and aligning educational offerings with transfer requirements and workforce priorities. He has also contributed to strategic planning efforts that connect academic programs with regional economic development goals.

Earlier in his career, Sam served as a faculty member and program chair, helping develop new curricula and establish academic programs. One notable achievement was leading the development of a nanotechnology program supported by National Science Foundation (NSF) funding. This effort integrated concepts across science, engineering, health-related fields, and applied technologies. He has also contributed to grant-funded initiatives, including projects supported by the National Science Foundation and workforce development programs such as Strong Workforce and Perkins, helping expand opportunities through internships, industry partnerships, and career pathways.

Vice President Sam Agdasi 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 graduate studies, he worked as a Research Specialist in the Chemistry Department at Purdue University. As an immigrant and first-generation college graduate, he brings a personal understanding of the value of educational access. His ongoing work continues to reflect a practical commitment to stronger programs, broader opportunity, and meaningful outcomes for students pursuing academic and professional progress.