University Professor and Provost Emeritus

Dr. Samuels recently returned to the faculty after 3 decades in University administration. He served as Provost of Rutgers-Newark for 20 years (1982-2002), and was Acting President and Executive Vice-President of Rutgers University in 2002-2003. He had served previously as Dean of  the Graduate School, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, at Rutgers-Newark, and as a member of the Medgar Evers College (CUNY) initial planning team.  He has served on numerous State and University commissions and task forces, and has authored major reports on academic governance, resource allocation, personnel and urban development. In Newark he oversaw a major expansion of the academic mission and physical plant of the Campus,  and actively participated in civic efforts to improve the quality of life and the image of the City. Dr. Samuels sits on the Boards of many community and civic organizations in the broader  metropolitan area.

Dr. Samuels received his Ph.D. and M.A. in Political Science from Duke University and his B.A. from McGill University in Canada, where he was born and raised.  He has taught courses at Rutgers in political philosophy, American government, and comparative politics, and has written on German political history and on American politics. His continuing scholarly interests include the role of ideology in politics, the impact of counter-terrorism measures on society, and the role of intelligence and security agencies in our political system. Dr. Samuels teaches courses and advises students in the Political Science Department, and in the School of Criminal Justice, at Rutgers-Newark.