A. Dexter Samuels, Ph.D. currently serves as the Senior VP for Student Affairs & Executive Director, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy at Meharry Medical College. In this capacity he provides the direction and leadership of the Office of Admissions and Records, Registrar, Library, Student Life, Student Financial Aid, Counseling Center, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Center. He previously served as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Tennessee State University. In this role was responsible for the oversight of the Career Development Center, Police Department, Residence Life, Judicial Affairs, Wellness Center, Campus Center, Disabled Student Services, Intramural & Recreational Sports, Cheerleading, Student Activities, Student Health Center, and University Counseling Center. He also served as a tenured Associate Professor and Assistant Dean in the College of Public Service and Urban Affairs at Tennessee State University.

His research interests include cultural competency, health care policy, health equity, and child passenger safety. Prior to working in academia, Dr. Samuels spent 11.5 years in State government serving as the Director of the Title VI Program for the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Additionally, Dr. Samuels served as the Program Director of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation in the Division of Mental Health Services.

Dr. Samuels’ academic background includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Michigan State University, a Master of Science Degree in Health Care Administration from Western Kentucky University, and has received his Doctorate of Philosophy Degree in Public Administration at Tennessee State University. Dr. Samuels is a graduate of the Tennessee Government Executive Institute Class of 1997 as well as Leadership Middle Tennessee Class of 2003.