Lamar University names Dr. Samuel Jator as new senior associate provost for Academic Affairs
October 05, 2022 | by Shelbe Rodriguez
Lamar University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dann Brown has appointed Dr. Samuel Jator as the university’s new senior associate provost for Academic Affairs. Jator comes to the university after serving as professor of mathematics and chair of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Austin Peay State University for nearly a decade.
During his tenure at Austin Peay State University, Jator provided leadership to more than 24 full-time faculty and 27 adjunct faculty while working to enhance student success, retention, advising and recruitment, and advocating for departmental resources. He also worked to articulate university policies to stakeholders and established several graduate-level academic programs.
In his newly appointed role, Jator will work closely with Academic Affairs leadership to provide guidance over academic curriculum processes, SACSCOC and the QEP, university policies and procedures, international student services, and increase student success, especially in mathematics. In addition, he will play a key role in improving the institution's access to real-time data that will be used in planning and decision-making processes.
“Dr. Samuel Jator brings to Lamar University a wealth of educational leadership experience with more than three decades focused on academic program development, assessment and accreditation, and academic research,” said Provost Brown. “I’m confident that his unique skills, collaborative and student-centered approach will further strengthen our academic programs here at Lamar University. ”
Dr. Samuel Jator holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics with a specialty in numerical analysis and an M.B.A with a concentration in accounting. He earned both an M.S. degree in mathematics and a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Ilorin in Ilorin, Nigeria.
During his time at APSU, he has served as the co-chair of the APSU Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Assessment Committee and positively contributed to APSU’s QEP Impact Report Evaluation.
He has taught a variety of courses comprising undergraduate and graduate level courses and was a part of the APSU team that pioneered the redesign of developmental and collegiate mathematics by implementing the co-requisite remediation model and developing mathematics pathways. That very APSU co-requisite remediation model is now one of the most dominant national models for removing mathematics deficiencies. Jator has served as a mentor to several undergraduate students involved in research some of which have presented at national conferences, published peer-reviewed papers and have been awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship. He also has served as the main dissertation supervisor for several doctoral students who have earned their Ph.Ds. Jator himself has had more than 85 manuscripts published in peer-reviewed journals and has been awarded more than $1 million in funding that has been used primordially for student success.
In recognition of his outstanding performance and dedication to excellence, he has received the following awards: National Society of Leadership and Success Award for Excellence in Teaching; APSU’s Distinguished Undergraduate Mentor Award; APSU’s Richard M. Hawkins Award for Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Achievement; and APSU’s Pioneer Award for dedication in the development and instruction of web-based courses.
“After coming to Beaumont last spring to discuss the QEP and present my work with corequisite remediation, it became very evident to me that Lamar University is focused on promoting a positive success-focused culture for everyone at the institution,” Jator said. “I look forward to collaborating with Provost Brown and our Lamar University faculty and staff. I hope that my work here at the university will lead to an increase in retention and graduation rates, the recruitment of domestic and international students, and the development of new academic programs.” 
During his tenure at Austin Peay State University, Jator provided leadership to more than 24 full-time faculty and 27 adjunct faculty while working to enhance student success, retention, advising and recruitment, and advocating for departmental resources. He also worked to articulate university policies to stakeholders and established several graduate-level academic programs.
In his newly appointed role, Jator will work closely with Academic Affairs leadership to provide guidance over academic curriculum processes, SACSCOC and the QEP, university policies and procedures, international student services, and increase student success, especially in mathematics. In addition, he will play a key role in improving the institution's access to real-time data that will be used in planning and decision-making processes.
“Dr. Samuel Jator brings to Lamar University a wealth of educational leadership experience with more than three decades focused on academic program development, assessment and accreditation, and academic research,” said Provost Brown. “I’m confident that his unique skills, collaborative and student-centered approach will further strengthen our academic programs here at Lamar University. ”
Dr. Samuel Jator holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics with a specialty in numerical analysis and an M.B.A with a concentration in accounting. He earned both an M.S. degree in mathematics and a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Ilorin in Ilorin, Nigeria.
During his time at APSU, he has served as the co-chair of the APSU Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Assessment Committee and positively contributed to APSU’s QEP Impact Report Evaluation.
He has taught a variety of courses comprising undergraduate and graduate level courses and was a part of the APSU team that pioneered the redesign of developmental and collegiate mathematics by implementing the co-requisite remediation model and developing mathematics pathways. That very APSU co-requisite remediation model is now one of the most dominant national models for removing mathematics deficiencies. Jator has served as a mentor to several undergraduate students involved in research some of which have presented at national conferences, published peer-reviewed papers and have been awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship. He also has served as the main dissertation supervisor for several doctoral students who have earned their Ph.Ds. Jator himself has had more than 85 manuscripts published in peer-reviewed journals and has been awarded more than $1 million in funding that has been used primordially for student success.
In recognition of his outstanding performance and dedication to excellence, he has received the following awards: National Society of Leadership and Success Award for Excellence in Teaching; APSU’s Distinguished Undergraduate Mentor Award; APSU’s Richard M. Hawkins Award for Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Achievement; and APSU’s Pioneer Award for dedication in the development and instruction of web-based courses.