Following a national search, the University of New Orleans has appointed Samuel Gladden as the new dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Education and Human Development. Gladden, who has nearly 25 years of experience as a faculty member and administrator, most recently served as associate dean of the College of Human Sciences and Humanities at the University of Houston-Clear Lake.  

“I am excited to welcome Dr. Samuel Gladden to the University of New Orleans,” said Mahyar Amouzegar, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “His expertise and depth of experience managing a similarly complex college are going to be invaluable as he leads the College of Liberal Arts, Education and Human Development. I look forward to working with Dr. Gladden in developing new programs for student success, faculty and staff development, and much more.”    

Gladden has teaching and administrative experience in multiple states serving diverse populations, and he has led successful change management at the department, college and campus levels. He has a track record of fostering internal collaboration, transparency and improved communication. In addition to serving as associate dean, he was also interim dean of the College of Human Sciences and Humanities at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, where he held the rank of professor of literature.

Prior to that, Gladden had a number of leadership roles at the University of Northern Iowa including coordinator of graduate studies in the Department of English Language and Literature, associate head of the Department of Languages and Literatures, acting head of the Department of Modern Languages, and special assistant to the dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences.

Gladden holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Texas and master’s and doctoral degrees in English, both from Texas A&M.