Dr. Samuel Kwapong, Ed.D

Dr. Samuel Saforo-Kwapong is a passionate and experienced leader in international education and DEI, with almost two decades of involvement in this field. He currently serves as the Executive Director for Belonging and Inclusion at Xavier University. In his current role, he serves a key role in establishing a community of belonging through the implementation of inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and social justice (IDEAS) strategies. Dr. Kwapong is responsible for supporting institutional professional development; strategic planning; conducting research & assessment; coordinate institutional equity policies including ADA/Section 504, bias, harassment, and discrimination; and increasing institutional effectiveness by developing students, faculty and staff.

In his past role as the Director of International Student and Scholar Services, he provided strategic direction and oversight for all processes and programming related to international students and scholars at the institute. He was the lead contact person for the university's J-1 exchange visitor program and the primary designated school official for the Department of Homeland Security. He also coordinated a range of services and outreach activities for international students and scholars, aimed at increasing retention and satisfaction. He oversaw the University’s exchange agreements and manages the university’s J-1 Program for Exchange Visitors (students and scholars).

Sam came to Xavier from Miami University where he was tasked with promoting and sustaining the university’s commitment to inclusive excellence and an equitable, inclusive, and diverse campus culture. He accomplished this by building on existing programming efforts to design, implement, lead, and assess systemic, sustainable DEI programming across the university. He also served as the Director of the Offices of Multicultural and International Student Services at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego CA. With 15 years of Higher Education experience, he has served in multiple roles from Academic Affairs to Student Affairs. As a former international student from Ghana, he is passionate about international education, intercultural competence, leadership development, and racial reconciliation.

He has successfully implemented and assessed systemic and sustainable diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across the university, in collaboration with campus partners. With over 15 years of experience in higher education, most of which spent in international education, he is committed to advancing the and elevating the journey of all students, including international students.

Sam is a native of Ghana and currently lives in Ross Township with his wife and two kids.