51°µÍø

Samantha Thomas, Assistant Vice President for Access and Equity and Title IX coordinator

Samantha Thomas serves as the Assistant Vice President for Access and Equity, and Title IX coordinator.  She oversees the Office of Institutional Access and Equity, which addresses concerns and complaints of discrimination and harassment on a protected basis from students, faculty, staff, applicants and visitors. The office also annually updates and maintains the University’s affirmative action plan and works closely with the Office of the Provost to administer the 51°µÍø model for faculty search and recruitment. In addition, it provides employee reasonable accommodations on the basis of a disability, conducts nondiscrimination training and oversees the administration of the University’s nondiscrimination policies and procedures.

Thomas joined 51°µÍø in January 2005.  She has over 25 years of experience in higher education and previously held the positions of assistant to the president for equity issues, dean of students, and vice president for student services at Cameron University in Oklahoma.  

She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, the American Association for Access, Equity, and Diversity, and the Association of Title IX Administrators.  She is a certified Title IX Coordinator and Texas mediator and holds the designations of SHRM Senior Certified Professional and Senior Certified Affirmative Action Professional.

Thomas received her Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cameron University and her Master’s degree in public administration from the University of Oklahoma.