Samuel Thomas named dean of the School of Arts & Sciences

Thomas is a renowned scientist who brings proven academic leadership experience to his new role leading one of the University's largest academic units.

The University of Rochester has appointed Samuel (Sam) William Thomas III '00, as the next Robert L and Mary L Sproull Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences. Thomas, an accomplished scholar and experienced academic leader, currently serves as senior dean of academic affairs and professor of chemistry in the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University. He will join the University of Rochester officially on January 1, 2026.

In his current role at Tufts, Thomas has supervised most of the academic departments and interdisciplinary programs in the School of Arts and Sciences, which has more than 6,000 students and 600 faculty. He also plays central roles in resource allocation, faculty and staff hiring and mentoring, budget oversight, enrollment management, and donor engagement for the school.

Thomas is a renowned scientist whose research and scholarship apply principles of physical organic chemistry to develop stimuli-responsive organic materials with impacts in organic electronics and photodynamic therapy. His research group's work has been supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Energy. He has received major awards including the NSF CAREER Award, the DARPA Young Faculty Award, and the 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award. Thomas has also authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and holds eight patents and patent applications and has supervised 12 successful PhD student defenses from his laboratory. He has also taught organic chemistry courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

As dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, Thomas will lead one of the University's largest academic units, providing intellectual vision for the faculty and spearheading efforts to strengthen scholarship and academic excellence across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences. In this role, he will focus on improving student success; supporting faculty and staff; and nurturing a culture of trust, transparency, and community-building as the school and University navigate the challenges confronting higher education. Thomas will also work to promote collaboration across Rochester's schools and divisions in support of the University's "One University" ideal, while strengthening the school's capital resources and integrating hands-on learning with world-class research.

"We are delighted to welcome Sam Thomas back to Rochester as the next dean of the School of Arts & Sciences," says President Sarah Mangelsdorf. "Sam is an accomplished scholar, an experienced academic leader, and an alumnus who knows the transformative power of a Rochester education. I have no doubt that his vision, energy, and commitment to collaboration will help the School of Arts & Sciences thrive in the years ahead."

Thomas will also work to enhance the school's visibility as a research-forward institution and will invigorate efforts to update existing infrastructure to meet the needs of faculty and students. This work will include playing a lead role in planning for new spaces such as the Natural Sciences Expansion/Transformative Technologies and Materials building.

"Sam brings an impressive record of scholarship, administrative leadership, and financial stewardship" says Provost and Chief Academic Officer Nicole Sampson. "His energy, creativity, and commitment to collaboration will help us strengthen our faculty, elevate student success, and expand the school's impact across the University and beyond. I am excited to welcome him back to Rochester and eager to see all that he will accomplish in this important role."

Thomas's appointment follows a national search led by Spencer Stuart, with input from a 14-member search committee chaired by Kate Sheeran, dean of the Eastman School of Music, and composed of faculty, staff, and trustees.

"The University of Rochester shaped my life both professionally and personally, and launched my career in science and higher education," Thomas says. "It is a community and institution that I care about deeply, and to return now as dean of the School of Arts & Sciences is a profound honor. I look forward to working with the University leadership, deans across the schools, and the extraordinary faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the School of Arts & Sciences to build on its strengths, advance new ideas, and foster a culture of trust, transparency, and innovation that reflects Rochester's Meliora values."

Thomas earned a bachelor of science in chemistry from the University of Rochester in 2000 and a PhD in chemistry from MIT in 2006. He completed postdoctoral work as an American Cancer Society Fellow at Harvard University. He and his wife, Arabela Thomas '01, have a 14-year-old son, Henry.