Our Leadership.

A. Dexter Samuels, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the Center for Health Policy at Meharry Medical College and Senior Vice President for Student and Faculty Affairs at Meharry. Dr. Samuels comes to Meharry after nine years at Tennessee State University where he served most recently as Vice President for Student Affairs and, prior to that, as the Assistant Dean in the College of Public Service and Urban Affairs. He began his academic career as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Administration and Health Sciences at Tennessee State University. Formerly, Dr. Samuels served as 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 a Doctorate of Philosophy Degree in Public Administration from Tennessee State University. He is a recipient of the 2007 Kettering Foundation Public Scholars Fellowship. Also, Dr. Samuels is a graduate of the Tennessee Government Executive Institute Class of 1997 as well as Leadership Middle Tennessee Class of 2003. In his roles as Senior Vice President and Executive Director, Dr. Samuels will be responsible for leading and directing the offices of Admissions, Registrar, Student Life, Faculty Affairs and the Center for Health Policy at Meharry Medical College. He will also serve as a member of Meharry’s Executive Management Team.