Swindell named Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

Samantha (Sam) Swindell has been named Washington State University's vice provost for undergraduate education and will begin a phased transition into the role Sept. 21. The Office of the Provost announced the new position earlier this summer to underscore the central role of student success in WSU's future and to strengthen the university's ability to fulfill its land-grant mission.

By elevating leadership focused on undergraduate education, WSU is reaffirming its commitment to providing a world-class educational experience for students across all campuses and expanding opportunities for learners from every background to access, excel in, and benefit from higher education.

A Coug alumna, Swindell has dedicated nearly three decades to WSU and currently serves as associate dean for undergraduate studies in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Prior to joining the college leadership team, she served as undergraduate program director in the Department of Psychology.

As vice provost for undergraduate education, Swindell will help shape the academic experience for undergraduate students across WSU. Partnering with deans, faculty, and student support teams, she will guide curriculum enhancements and policy improvements that support student success, expand access and opportunities for learning, and help create an educational experience in which every student can thrive.

"Few people understand the undergraduate experience as deeply as Sam," said Provost and Executive Vice President Chris Riley-Tillman. "Her career has been defined by a genuine commitment to helping students thrive, removing barriers to success, and creating opportunities for every learner. She is widely respected for her leadership in undergraduate education and has helped advance practices that have influenced student success well beyond a single institution. I am excited to welcome her into this important leadership role and look forward to the impact she will have on the future of undergraduate education."

Throughout her career, Swindell has been a champion of student success and institutional transformation. She previously served as co-principal investigator and institutional leader for WSU's Transformational Change Initiative (TCI), a comprehensive effort to improve student success through a focus on student well-being, engagement, and academic resilience. Through integrated faculty development, peer mentoring, and family engagement strategies, TCI earned national recognition from the American Council on Education as a model for advancing student success.

In CAS, Swindell has led efforts to improve outcomes in foundational courses, including mathematics, physics, history, chemistry, and biology. Those initiatives contributed to reductions in low grades and withdrawal rates, with particular attention to supporting first-generation, low-income, and underserved students.

Swindell is also working with colleagues in CAS on the development of the college's Career-Ready, World-Ready initiative. The program helps faculty intentionally incorporate future-ready competencies into coursework, enabling students to identify and develop sought-after skills across disciplines. Students will ultimately showcase those competencies through a portfolio-based experience designed to connect academic learning with career readiness.

"The academic journey is at the heart of each student's experience," said Swindell. "I'm honored by the opportunity to serve in this role and look forward to partnering with faculty, staff, and students across WSU to create innovative learning experiences that prepare graduates to succeed in a rapidly changing world."

In addition to her administrative leadership, Swindell serves as a scholarly professor (career-track) in psychology. She earned her PhD and master's degree in experimental psychology from WSU and holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Puget Sound.