Sam Agdasi

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 work has centered on student success, academic quality, transfer pathways, STEM education, career technical education, and applied disciplines. He has also supported faculty development, curriculum planning, and program improvement while helping colleges connect instruction with both 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 supporting instructional quality, academic innovation, program effectiveness, and student outcomes. He works with faculty and staff to help programs remain responsive to changing student needs and regional labor market priorities. Sam has handled a broad range of academic and operational responsibilities throughout his career. His experience includes budget planning, curriculum development, program review, faculty support, and enrollment planning. He has also led dual enrollment initiatives and built partnerships with K–12 districts, four-year institutions, and industry. These efforts have helped expand access while strengthening transfer opportunities, workforce preparation, and long-term program stability. 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 responsibilities included programs in business, industrial trades, and social sciences. He has also held leadership roles at large community colleges in California and at community colleges in the Midwest, including a multi-campus system. His work included managing multi-million-dollar budgets, supporting institutional and programmatic 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, integrating 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 increase access to internships, industry partnerships, and career pathways. His leadership background also includes facilities planning and large instructional initiatives. He has worked to connect capital investments with academic priorities and industry needs so that learning environments can support both current instruction and future program development. Through collaboration with institutional leaders and external partners, he has contributed to projects focused on strengthening educational infrastructure and improving student access to relevant learning spaces. 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, where he collaborated with an interdisciplinary research team. His technical background continues to influence his approach to problem-solving, academic planning, and program development. As an immigrant and first-generation college graduate, he brings personal perspective to his work in education. His professional efforts have emphasized expanding access, supporting underserved communities, and helping students pursue meaningful academic and career goals. He has also focused on creating opportunities in high-demand fields and supporting pathways that can contribute to long-term economic mobility. Sam has remained active 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. His service has also included presenting to senior citizens on emerging technologies, supporting STEM events for K–12 students, and serving 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, values family and responsibility, and has an interest in animal welfare and wildlife. He also 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 educational pathways that support long-term academic and professional growth.