Dr. Samantha Samreth has worked in the field of higher education for over 24 years in student services, administration, and instruction in the Management Department. She earned her doctorate degree in Education and Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University, an MBA in Management, and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Dr. Samreth began the first five years of her career in retail management. Her career in higher education began at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with the department of Minority Business/Teacher Preparation Programs as an academic counselor, senior advisor for the School of Business and Economics, and then Director of McNair Scholars Program/Academic Network for the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Student Success. After completing her doctorate degree, she taught management courses at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in the College of Business Administration. She spent the past almost five years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with the Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program (Chancellor’s and Powers-Knapp Scholarship Programs) serving as an interim director before her departure to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP). Dr. Samreth joined UWSP in 2022 in her current position as the Director for the Diversity and College Access (DCA) department.
Her passion is student development and those relating to diversity, access, equity, and inclusion. Some of her initiatives relating to supporting the underserved student populations include but are not limited to undergraduate research, short-term travel study abroad courses (e.g., Brazil, Cambodia, India, Thailand, Vietnam), scholarships, internships, student success programs, and other related high impact practices (HIPs). Her other interests are mentorship, teaching business management courses and grant writing. Her notable awards are UW System Regent Diversity Award for McNair Scholars Program, Ann Lydecker Educational Diversity Award for Pathway for Success Program, Ann Lydecker Educational Diversity Award for Summer Business Institute, Women of Color Award, and National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Outstanding Advising Award.
Her greatest joy comes from the students. She makes time every chance she can get to spend time in DCA’s Centers, surrounded by students, for informal listening sessions. Her passion is for improving students’ experiences and success at UWSP. Her hobbies are spending time with her family, friends, and cooking. Her biggest accomplishment is raising two lovely children, Savanna and Brandon.