Sami Ansari, PhD, has been appointed dean of the Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services (MMCHHS) at Salem State. The appointment was effective March 27, 2022. MMCHHS includes the university’s criminal justice, health care studies, nursing, occupational therapy, and social work programs.
Ansari had performed the role of interim dean of MMCHHS since January 2020. Prior to that, he served as a criminal justice faculty member for 12 years, including serving as department chair from 2016 to 2020. Ansari previously held the roles of deputy police chief and police chief in India, served as a human rights officer for the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH), and worked as a policy analyst for the Boston Police Department’s Office of Research and Development.
“While guiding MMCHHS through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Ansari has moved the school forward by overseeing the growth of academic offerings, prioritizing student success, and continuing to build external partnerships,” said President John D. Keenan. “Dr. Ansari has contributed his knowledge, leadership, and dedication to our campus for many years, and I have every confidence that he will deepen his positive impact through this new role.”
“As a committed member of Salem State, it is my honor and privilege to serve as permanent dean of the Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services,” said Ansari. “My vision is to grow the programs in the college while aligning them with the labor market and social justice needs of the North Shore and the Commonwealth. An unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and collaboration with our community partners will be central to my strategies to attain my vision for MMCHHS.”
As interim dean, Ansari raised funds to establish the school’s Student Success Hub, facilitated the development of the new health care studies and Spanish major, and worked to expand relationships with external partners. Guiding MMCHHS throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Ansari saw the school through the challenges of securing clinical, fieldwork and internship placements despite the changes that the pandemic has brought.
“Dr. Ansari is an accomplished scholar, teacher, and leader,” said Provost David Silva. “He is committed to expanding opportunities within MMCHHS and ensuring that the school and its graduates are positioned to meet the needs of the communities that surround us. I look forward to all that is ahead for MMCHHS under his continued leadership.”
Ansari holds a PhD in criminology and justice policy from Northeastern University, a graduate degree in public policy and management from the University of Syracuse and the Indian Institute of Management (IIMB), and a Master of Arts in political science from Allahabad University.
Ansari has been engaged with the American Society of Criminology and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. He is a member of the Southern Regional Education Board, Tufts Health Plan Foundation & Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Foundation, and the Peabody School Advisory Board. He also serves as an external program reviewer, providing feedback and guidance on criminal justice curricula at other institutions.
During his time as dean, Ansari wants to continue working to strengthen and grow the programs in MMCHHS to meet the needs of students and the surrounding community. He seeks to achieve this by continuing to advance student, faculty, and staff success and fostering collaboration with community partners.