Steven Sample

Steven Sample

Sample in 2010.
12th President of the University at Buffalo
In office
1982–1991
Preceded by Robert L. Ketter
Succeeded by William R. Greiner
10th President of the University of Southern California
In office
1991–2010
Preceded by James Zumberge
Succeeded by C.L. Max Nikias
Personal details
Born Steven Browning Sample
(1940-11-29)November 29, 1940
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Died March 29, 2016(2016-03-29) (aged 75)
Alma mater University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Profession Electrical engineering, Higher education, Academic administration
Religion Episcopalian

Steven Browning Sample (November 29, 1940 – March 29, 2016) was the 10th president of the University of Southern California (USC).[1] He became president in 1991 and was succeeded by C. L. Max Nikias on August 3, 2010.[2] Prior to his presidency at USC, Sample was the 12th president of the University at Buffalo (UB) in the State University of New York (SUNY) system from 1982 to 1991.[3] He was succeeded at UB by Bill Greiner.[3]

Education

Sample was born on November 29, 1940[3][4] and grew up in the Belden Hill neighborhood of Wilton, Connecticut and received a scholarship to attend the University of Illinois to study engineering. Sample held B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

Career

University at Buffalo presidency

Sample was president of the University at Buffalo from 1982 to 1991,[3] and was succeeded by Bill Greiner.[3] While president, he gained fame for upgrading the long-languishing sports program,[3] and for guiding the university into being a major research institution.[3] Accordingly, the university's academic functions were consolidated under the office of the provost, in a major change from prior tradition.

Honors

In 2004, Sample was honored by UB with the Charles P. Norton Medal, the highest honor given by the university.[3][5] Also in 2004, a scholarship fund was established in Sample's honor to go toward funding four years for an undergraduate who is a student in the Engineering and Applied Sciences Department, as well as being in the University Honors Program.[3][5]

Regarding the establishment of a scholarship fund in his honor, Sample is quoted in a statement, included in an article in the June 2, 2004 edition of The Buffalo News by Stephen Watson, stating:
I am proud of the fact that, through this endowed scholarship, my name will be permanently linked with the University of Buffalo, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the honors program.[5]

University of Southern California presidency

Sample with the 2007 USC Trojans football team, celebrating a victory

Under Sample's leadership, USC has become world-renowned in the fields of communication and multimedia technologies, received national acclaim for its innovative community partnerships, and improved its status as one of the nation's leading research universities. In 1999, USC was ranked #41 among universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.[6] In 2010, the final year of Sample's term, USC was ranked #26 in the same listing (USC is now ranked #23).[7] In 2008, his own salary was $1.9 million.[8]

USC announced on November 1, 2009 that Sample would step down as its president in August 2010.[2][9] He explained that he wanted to see "fresh leadership" take charge.[9] Since stepping down as President, and following a one-year sabbatical, Sample has taught a course at USC with Warren Bennis.[1]

On August 3, 2010, C.L. Max Nikias became the 11th president of the university.

Fundraising

Sample's fundraising initiatives raised more than $430 million for sponsored research.[1] He led two strategic planning processes to improve the university on the whole.[3] During his term, the university also conducted the second most successful fundraising campaign in the history of higher education, raising nearly $3 billion.[1] These donations included major contributions of $112.5 million from Alfred Mann to establish the Mann Institute of Biomedical Engineering, $120 million from Ambassador Walter Annenberg to create the Annenberg Center for Communication, $100 million from the Annenberg Foundation, and a $110 million from the W. M. Keck Foundation for the Keck School of Medicine.[1][10] More recently, Sample has overseen the $175 million gift from George Lucas to the School of Cinematic Arts.

Construction projects

He has overseen the construction of a number of important structures at USC.[1] These include the Leavey Library, Popovich Hall, the International Residential College at Parkside, the Arts and Humanities Residential College at Parkside, and Ronald Tutor Hall.[1] Additional construction projects have included the Galen Center, the George Lucas Building at the University Park Campus, the Ronald Tutor Campus Center, and the University Hospital at the Health Sciences Campus.[1]

Research

Sample is the author of numerous journal articles and published papers in science and engineering and in higher education.[3] His patents for digital appliance controls, particularly touch pads on microwave ovens,[3] have been licensed to practically every major manufacturer of appliances in the world. Over 300 million home appliances have been built using his inventions.

Teaching

Sample had a passion for teaching and education at USC. He taught several classes to students in different fields and different class levels.[1] Most recently, he taught "The Art and Adventure of Leadership" with Warren Bennis.[1]

Books

In 2002, Sample published a book titled The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership.[11] It explains his personal leadership philosophy and provides advice to readers.[11] More specifically, it details his style of leadership in the context of USC's rise as an institution in his decade as president.[11]

Personal life

In 2001, Sample was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease,[9] but said he would not let it affect his duties as president.[12] Sample was a resident of San Marino, California. On March 29, 2016, Sample died at the age of 75.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 About us: Steven B. Sample: President Emeritus website, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA: University of Southern California, 2010, Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  2. 1 2 C. L. Max Nikias named 11th president of USC, USC News, Los Angeles, CA: University of Southern California. March 11, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Office of the President: Our past presidents: Steven B. Sample, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY: State University of New York at Buffalo, 2014, Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  4. ↑ Steven Browning Sample, Marquis Who's Who, New Providence, NJ: Marquis Who's Who LLC, 2014, Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Watson, S. Former UB president honored with fund, Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY: Berkshire Hathaway. June 2, 2004. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  6. ↑ Grant, J. USC keeps high ranking, U.S. News says: Latest nationwide U.S. News & World Report collegiate poll helps illustrate continued institutional progress. USC News. Los Angeles, CA: University of Southern California. August 20, 2007. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  7. ↑ National university rankings: #23: University of Southern California. U.S. News & World Report. New York, NY: U.S. News & World Report LP, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  8. ↑ Staff reports: Vandy chancellor among top earners, The Tennessean, McLean, VA: Gannett Co., Inc. November 14, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  9. 1 2 3 Gordon, L. USC chief to step down: The president who led dramatic increases in academic prestige and..., Los Angeles Times. November 1, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  10. ↑ About USC: A brief history: Steven B. Sample (1991-present), USC Catalogue 2006–2007. Los Angeles, CA: University of Southern California. 2006. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 Sample, Steven B. (2002). The contrarian's guide to leadership, first edition. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
  12. ↑ President of USC is fighting Parkinson's disease: Health: Steven B. Sample is the latest in a series of prominent Americans to publicly acknowledge being diagnosed with the neurological disorder, Los Angeles Times. December 8, 2001. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Steven B. Sample, former university president, dies at 75". The New York Times. March 30, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
Academic offices
Preceded by
James H. Zumberge		 10th President of the University of Southern California
1991-2010 		Succeeded by
C. L. Max Nikias
Preceded by
Robert L. Ketter		 12th President of the University at Buffalo
1982–1991 		Succeeded by
William R. Greiner
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