Samuel L. Pardue

Dean and Director, 2016-2020
(Born May 27, 1955)

Sam Pardue, a native of North Carolina, led the College through periods of unprecedented growth in teaching, research and Extension. Under his vision and leadership, the College achieved record growth in graduate student enrollments and student credit hour funding. He was instrumental in developing and supporting a new major in Hospitality and Food Industry Management which has achieved university-wide and national prominence. Under his leadership, the college achieved record levels of grant funding and secured federal funding for collaborative research with Fort Valley State University. Most noteworthy, he spearheaded efforts to secure federal and state funding to build a new Poultry Science Building. He transformed the structure and diversity of the College’s leadership by hiring six new department heads. Throughout his tenure, he maintained a vision of excellence for the College and believed in the capacity of the human spirit to create a better and more just society.