Dr. Samples is theVice President for Academic Affairs at Pitt-Johnstown. Dr. Samples leads with with true commitment to quality, to inclusiveness, and to realizing a true campus community. Pitt-Johnstown is at the forefront of a national modern trend with commitment to educating the whole student in which this position is critically influential.
Academics
Dr. Samples joined Pitt-Johnstown in 1996 as Director of the Engineering Technology Division. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (1969) from Clarkson University, and a Masters of Science (1979, thermal sciences) and Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering (1983, computational fluid dynamics) from Oklahoma State University. He is a registered professional engineer.
Dr. Samples spent 26 years in the Army Corps of Engineers, retiring, as a Colonel, at the United States Military Academy in 1996. His time in the Army included command through Battalion level and 12 years as a teacher at the Academy. At the Academy, Dr. Samples was the Director of the Mechanical Engineering Division and Director of the Mechanical Engineering Research Center at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
Professional Activities
Dr. Samples has been involved in teacher education since 1980. In 1994, He was awarded the Society of Automotive Engineer's Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award for excellence in education, research, and scholarship. He has authored numerous papers on education and teaching and has facilitated many workshops on various teaching and learning techniques. As the Director of Engineering Technology he has been actively involved in program development in engineering technology and teacher education. Dr. Samples has co-authored numerous books and technical articles on education and engineering and has given scholarly presentations, workshops, and consultations.
Professional Recognition
In November 2003, Dr. Samples was recognized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers with the Dedicated Service Award. This award honors dedicated volunteer service to the Society marked by outstanding performance. Demonstrated effective leadership, prolonged and committed service, devotion, enthusiasm, and faithfulness. Additionally, in 1983 he received the Society of Automotive Engineers Teetor Award, and in 1982 received the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Life Quality Award. Dr. Samples has been listed in
Who’s Who in the East,
Who’s Who in Emerging Leaders, and
Who’s Who in Science and Engineering. He was inducted into the Oklahoma State University’s Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society in 1983 and is a charter member of the Pitt-Johnstown chapter of Phi Kappa Phi.
He is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society for Engineering Education, the Society of Automotive Engineers, the International Society for Exploring Teaching and Learning and the Association of the United States Army. His academic areas of interest include air-breathing engines, fires, combustion, dynamics, and system design. He also has an interest in engineering education, engineering design, and mechanical engineering curriculum development.
Dr. Samples is a member of the American Society for Engineering Education where he was the Chair of the Energy Conversion and Conservation Division, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, currently serving on the ASME Foundation Board, the International Society for Exploring Teaching Alternatives where he serves on the Board of Directors, the American Institute of Astronautics and Aeronautics, and the Society of Automotive Engineers.
Family
He and his wife Kathy have two sons, Christopher and Steven.