Joel Hassman Samuels has recently been appointed as the executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Miami, marking a significant leadership transition at the institution. With a distinguished academic background and more than two decades of experience in higher education administration and legal scholarship, Samuels is uniquely poised to elevate the university’s academic and research enterprises. His expertise in both legal education and research administration offers a multifaceted perspective beneficial for guiding one of the nation’s comprehensive research universities into its next phase of development.
Samuels’ previous role as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Carolina (USC) is particularly notable for his transformative impact on the college’s research profile. During his five-year tenure, he spearheaded a remarkable increase in federal research funding, boosting grant dollars by upwards of 70 percent. This growth culminated in surpassing $50 million in federal grant awards in fiscal year 2024, a historic milestone for the college. Such achievements reflect not only savvy administrative acumen but also a strategic approach to fostering interdisciplinary research and competitive grant acquisition.
The USC College of Arts and Sciences, overseen by Samuels, is the largest academic unit at the university, encompassing 26 departments and programs across a broad spectrum of disciplines, including arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Serving more than 10,000 students, it accounts for nearly half of the university’s total credit-hour production. Managing an annual budget exceeding $450 million, Samuels’ leadership emphasized both fiscal responsibility and visionary investments, particularly in emerging fields such as neuroscience – a program that under his guidance evolved rapidly to become USC’s fastest-growing major.
Samuels’ academic pedigree includes a magna cum laude Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Princeton University and a law degree from the University of Michigan, where he was honored as a Clarence Darrow Scholar. Beyond his research and academic credentials, Samuels also boasts extensive experience in securing substantial philanthropic support. His stewardship led to the largest programmatic gift in USC’s history—a $75 million endowment that enhances innovation in pedagogy, faculty recruitment, student internships, and specialized academic tracks. This strategic infusion of capital underscores the critical interplay between fundraising and academic program development in modern research universities.
One of Samuels’ hallmark roles was serving as the executive director of South Carolina’s Rule of Law Collaborative, where he managed over $27 million in federal research grants as the principal investigator. This position not only established him as the institution’s top-funded social scientist but also demonstrated his capacity to integrate social science research within policy and governance frameworks. Such cross-disciplinary collaboration exemplifies the expanding role of social sciences within the broader academic mission, providing insights that inform governance, legal frameworks, and societal resilience.
Transitioning to the University of Miami, Samuels assumes leadership at a pivotal moment as the university seeks to enhance its commitment to research and innovation. He succeeds Guillermo “Willy” Prado, who served effectively as interim provost for two years. Under Prado’s interim leadership, important infrastructural and organizational advancements were made, such as the establishment of the Center for Academic Navigation and Success and the reimagining of online learning platforms. These foundational changes prepare the university for a new era of academic excellence under Samuels’ guidance.
President Joseph “Joe” Echevarria has emphasized the importance of Samuels’ broad academic and operational leadership capabilities, highlighting the alignment between Samuels’ expertise and the University of Miami’s ambitions, particularly in STEM and basic sciences. Reflecting this vision, the university has introduced a new role of chief scientific officer to strengthen the strategic focus on scientific innovation. This development signals a recognition of the growing importance of coordinated leadership in research activities that span multiple disciplines and transcends traditional academic boundaries.
Samuels’ personal leadership style is shaped not only by his academic rigor but also by his unconventional experience as a roller derby coach. Leading the Columbia QuadSquad for seven years, Samuels nurtured a team-oriented and family-like culture, propelling the team from near the bottom of the national rankings to a commendable 26th place among more than 350 competitors. This unique blend of competitive spirit, inclusivity, and team cohesion is expected to influence his approach to fostering collaborative cultures within academic and research settings at the University of Miami.
In his own words, Samuels envisions a future where academic excellence is coupled with innovative research, creativity, and an emphasis on community engagement. He articulates a commitment to expanding the university’s social impact through interdisciplinary partnerships, enhanced student experiences, and leveraging the university’s clinical capacities. This strategic outlook situates the University of Miami at the nexus of academic scholarship, societal contribution, and economic development, reflecting contemporary imperatives for research universities.
Furthermore, the establishment of the chief scientific officer position represents a forward-looking strategy to elevate research capacity amid growing competition in STEM fields. By ensuring dedicated leadership for scientific endeavors, the University of Miami aims to amplify its national and global visibility, attracting top-tier faculty, research funding, and collaborative opportunities. Samuels will oversee this vision, balancing the nuances of academic administration with the operational challenges intrinsic to research-intensive institutions.
Samuels’ blend of legal scholarship, research funding acumen, and administrative experience positions him as an ideal steward for steering the University of Miami’s academic mission into the future. His demonstrated ability to increase research funding, engage donors, and foster interdisciplinary initiatives highlights a dynamic approach essential for the rapid evolution of higher education. As the university navigates the complexities of the 21st-century academic landscape—from digital transformation to global competitiveness—Samuels’ leadership symbolizes a commitment to resilience, innovation, and excellence.
His appointment also reiterates the evolving role of provosts in modern research universities, where overseeing academic affairs involves intricate coordination of diverse stakeholders, strategic resource allocation, and the spearheading of transformative policies. The University of Miami’s decision to invest in both a provost with a robust research and administrative portfolio and a newly minted chief scientific officer exemplifies an integrated governance model that other institutions may soon emulate.
As Samuels officially steps into his new position beginning August 11, the University of Miami community anticipates a vibrant era defined by increased research output, fortified academic programs, and enhanced support systems for students and faculty alike. His commitment to collaboration and inclusivity echoes throughout his statements, promising a campus culture that values excellence alongside empathy, innovation, and shared purpose.
Subject of Research: Higher education leadership, research enterprise development, academic administration, interdisciplinary research funding.
Article Title: Joel Hassman Samuels Appointed Provost at University of Miami: A New Era of Academic and Research Leadership
News Publication Date: Not specified in the source content.
Web References:
– https://provost.miami.edu/_assets/pdf/joel-samuels-cv-2025.pdf
– https://mediasvc.eurekalert.org/Api/v1/Multimedia/d95f08de-59b8-4ae1-b4da-de9938c63d85/Rendition/low-res/Content/Public
Image Credits: Photo courtesy Joel Hassman Samuels
Keywords: Research universities, Education administration, Universities, Academic leadership, Federal research funding, Interdisciplinary research, Higher education innovation
