Sameer Gadkaree

Sameer has been a leader in college access and success for over a decade. Most recently, Sameer was a Senior Program Officer at the Joyce Foundation, where he led the philanthropy’s efforts on higher education. His portfolio focused on addressing racial and economic disparities in college access, including improving the longstanding racial disparities in access to public flagship universities, supporting graduation for community college students, supporting college access for rural students through regional public universities, and access for economically disadvantaged students at selective universities.

Prior to his work at Joyce, Sameer was an Associate Vice Chancellor at the City Colleges of Chicago, the system of seven community colleges that serves the City of Chicago. He led the Adult Education division, with a focus on helping adults who were learning English or getting their high school equivalency get access to college level coursework. He also was on the strategy team, helping the system improve its retention and graduation outcomes.

1. How has your personal journey influenced your approach to leadership?

Having worked in so many different types of organizations - I have come to believe, ever more, that it is important to have long-term goals and values to which the work is pinned so that it is not possible to get lost in the day-to-day shifting tides.

2. What do you consider to be the greatest challenge as a leader of color?

Supporting some of my very promising, emerging leaders of color - who are working in tough contexts with few peers and little diversity.

3. What inspires and/or motivates you in your leadership journey?

I have a wonderful team - that is excited about the work they are building and taking the next steps in their own career journeys.