Education:

PhD – Howard University (Intercultural Communication and Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies)

MA – New York University (Speech and Interpersonal Communication)

Certificate in Campaign Management – The Campaign School at Yale Law School

Disciplinary Background: Intercultural Communication, Human Sexuality and Gender Studies

Areas of Interest and Service: Women and sexuality; Sexuality and aging; Intercultural and interpersonal communication in intimate relationships; Communication at the intersections of gender, race, age and sexuality; Post-secondary access and academic success for non-traditional and encore students; Female career and leadership empowerment; Food scarcity and waste

Dr. Vida Samuel has been a faculty at the University of Connecticut since 2016. She is a Faculty Affiliate at the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) and the Department of Social and Critical Inquiry. She is a scholar in women’s studies and intercultural communication. Dr. Samuel’s research interests focus on the sexual lives of women at midlife. Her secondary area of interest and service is in post-secondary education access for first generation students and older adults. Professor Samuel is the recipient of excellence in teaching and undergraduate academic advising awards and sits on the University’s IRB Committee.

Dr. Samuel received her master’s in speech and interpersonal communication from New York University.  She received her PhD with a focus on intercultural communication and women’s studies at Howard University. While in Washington DC, she worked as a researcher at FHI360, a global, human development, non-profit organization that studies and gathers evidence to deliver community-based solutions in the United States and globally. An example of that work, is the increase of bike lanes to promote activity and mobile farmer’s markets and grocers to promote healthy eating from 2010-2016 in metropolitan areas and food deserts around the United States.

Dr. Samuel is a passionate voice for women and girls, blending education, advocacy, and community service to create lasting impact. She is known for speaking on topics that spark conversation – from how pop culture icons like Barbie shape young minds to how major court decisions affect women’s lives. Her background makes her a sought-after panelist on issues like community well-being and generational feminism, including events hosted by the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.

Beyond the podium, Dr. Samuel contributes to both academic and creative spaces. She helped shape the Schomburg Center’s exhibit Unveiling Visions as its copy editor and co-edited the companion book Cosmic Underground: A Grimoire of Black Speculative Discontent. She also lends her expertise as a peer reviewer for scholarly journals.

Dr. Samuel’s dedication to community service is extensive. From 2018-2024, she served on the board of LiveGirl, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering young women. She is now a special advisor to the board. In 2022, she co-led a rally in Stamford to advocate for menstrual health equity through bill HB-5272. Her volunteer work also included evaluating scholarship applications for the Mandela-Washington Fellows program and mentoring at the Jackie Robinson Foundation Mentoring and Leadership Conference. She is also a contributor to the report The Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Connecticut’s Women and volunteers with Food Rescue US.