From captivating workshops and lectures to lab tours, open discussions and more, our Faculty Connections program provides intentional, informal opportunities for our residents to connect with faculty outside the classroom. Learn more about integral program participant Dr. Justin Samuel, who became our first faculty member to achieve mentor-level status after conducting four engaging sessions tailored toward student growth over the 2023-24 academic year.
Building relationships with professors can be daunting but Dr. Samuel made taking the first step easy, offering residents an approachable environment to connect interpersonally and deep dive into topics at the forefront of their journey on and beyond the Forty Acres. At the heart of each Faculty Connections event is a commitment to helping residents develop their personal, professional or academic goals and plans. This focus shined in Dr. Samuel’s sessions, which covered:
- Building resilience
- Maximizing the college experience
- Personal branding
- LinkedIn essentials
In being recognized, Dr. Samuel stands as a paragon of excellence in mentorship – but this standing is nothing new. A highly distinguished scholar-practitioner and a nationally renowned student affairs administrator with over 16 years of leadership service, Dr. Samuel has gone above and beyond to nurture the aspirations and talents of students throughout his career. Even while juggling a deanship and dual faculty roles – he is currently Assistant Dean for Student Affairs (College of Pharmacy) and Assistant Professor of Practice (College of Pharmacy; College of Education) – Dr. Samuel manages to guide students’ personal, professional and academic growth through his work as a Gallup® Certified Strengths Coach and as part of this program. Also noteworthy is Dr. Samuel’s special ties to University Housing and Dining, having served as an RA during his time as a UT undergraduate and as the department’s Assistant Director of Residence Life for over four years during his professional career.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Samuel on this well-deserved recognition, as well as look out for future Faculty Connections opportunities. Faculty members interested in becoming mentors or recommending fellow staff to participate can learn more here about how to do so. Students interested in attending events should keep an eye out for emails about upcoming opportunities or can contact the Manager for Living Learning Communities and Academic Initiatives to learn more.