Steven Browning Sample (born November 29, 1940)[1] was the 10th president of the University of Southern California (USC). He became president in 1991 and was succeeded by C.L. Max Nikias on August 3, 2010.[2]
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Sample holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
Sample was president of the University of Buffalo from 1982 to 1991. While president, he gained fame for upgrading the long-languishing sports program and guiding the university into being a major research institution. Accordingly, the university's academic functions were consolidated under the office of the provost, in a major change from prior tradition.
Under Sample's leadership, USC has become world-renowned in the fields of communication and multimedia technologies, received national acclaim for its innovative community partnerships, and improved its status as one of the nation's leading research universities. In 1999, USC was ranked #41 among universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.[3] In 2010, the final year of Sample's term, USC was ranked #26 in the same listing (USC is now ranked #23).[4] In 2008, his own salary was $1.9 million.[5]
USC announced on November 1, 2009 that Sample would step down as its president in August 2010.[6] He explained that he wanted to see "fresh leadership" take charge. He has not publicly disclosed his future plans.
On August 3, 2010, C.L. Max Nikias became the 11th president of the university.
Sample’s fundraising initiatives have raised over $430 million for sponsored research. He led two strategic planning processes to improve the university on the whole. During his term, the university also conducted the second most successful fundraising campaign in the history of higher education, raising nearly $3 billion. These donations included major contributions of $112.5 million from Alfred Mann to establish the Mann Institute of Biomedical Engineering, $120 million from Ambassador Walter Annenberg to create the Annenberg Center for Communication, $100 million from the Annenberg Foundation, and a $110 million from the W. M. Keck Foundation for the Keck School of Medicine.[7] More recently, Sample has overseen the $175 million gift from George Lucas to the School of Cinematic Arts.
Sample has overseen the construction of a number of important structures at USC. These include the Leavey Library, Popovich Hall, International Residential College at Parkside, Arts and Humanities Residential College at Parkside, Ronald Tutor Hall, Galen Center, the George Lucas Building at the University Park Campus, and the Ronald Tutor Campus Center. Other projects have included the University Hospital at the Health Sciences Campus.
Sample is the author of numerous journal articles and published papers in science and engineering and in higher education. His 2001 book, The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership, details his style of leadership in the context of USC's rise as an institution in his decade as president. His patents for digital appliance controls have been licensed to practically every major manufacturer of appliances in the world. Over 300 million home appliances have been built using his inventions.
President Sample had a passion for teaching and education at USC. He taught several classes to students in different fields and different class levels. Most recently, he taught "The Art and Adventure of Leadership" with Warren Bennis. Since stepping down as President, after a one year sabbatical, Dr. Sample has continued to teach the course with Dr. Bennis.
Sample was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2001, but said he would not let it affect his duties as president.[8]
Sample published a book, The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership, in 2003. It explains his personal leadership philosophy and provides advice to readers.
Sample is a resident of San Marino, California.
Sample, Steven B. The contrarian's guide to leadership. 1st ed. San Francisco : Jossey-Bass, c2002. xix, 192 p. ; 24 cm. ISBN 0-7879-5587-6
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| Preceded by James H. Zumberge |
10th President of the University of Southern California 1991-2010 |
Succeeded by C. L. Max Nikias |
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