Director
Biography
Amanda Newman Samsel currently serves as the Director of Student Conduct & Community Standards (SCCS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Amanda has worked in the student conduct arena for 17 years and has a background in academic dishonesty, behavioral misconduct, Title IX, conduct boards, and student organization misconduct. She has extensive knowledge and expertise surrounding large-scale hazing and alcohol investigations. Previously, Amanda served as the Associate Director of SCCS at UTK where she helped develop the student organization misconduct process at UTK and worked closely with fraternities & sororities, Inter/National Headquarters, and Advisors. Before coming to UT, Amanda served as the Coordinator for Judicial Affairs & Mediation Services at Middle Tennessee State University and an adjunct professor for University Studies.
Amanda has a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a Master of Education in Higher Education & Supervision. She is a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and the Association for Student Conduct Administrators (ASCA). Amanda is a graduate of the ASCA Donald D. Gehring Academy, the Novak Institute for Hazing Prevention, and MTSU’s mediation training program. Amanda is an alumna member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority and served as the Social Advisor and Standards Advisor for the Epsilon Tau Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi.
Amanda’s passion lies in helping students succeed and overcome adversity. She believes as human beings, we all make mistakes. However, in the chasm of error lies one’s greatest potential for self-improvement, reflection, and growth. She is committed to helping students learn from their mistakes and reminding them that failure does not define who they are as a person. Outside of work, Amanda loves reading, physical exercise, being outdoors, and animals of all shapes and sizes, especially her two dogs, Charlie & Emma Watson. She is married with two kids who keep her on her toes!
Education
B.S., 2004 – Political Science, Middle Tennessee State University
M.Ed., 2006 — Higher Education Administration, Middle Tennessee State University