LEILA SAMII, Ph.D.

Results-oriented achiever with a proven track record of exceeding targets and driving success in fast-paced environments. Strategic thinking, complemented by hands-on experience, enables the delivery of impactful solutions that significantly enhance organizational performance. A strong commitment to continuous improvement and innovation fosters a proactive approach to challenges, ensuring alignment with business objectives and stakeholder expectations. Expertise in leveraging data-driven insights to inform decision-making and optimize processes contributes to sustained growth and success.

Southern New Hampshire University

• Associate Professor of Marketing (2020–2026)
• Assistant Professor of Marketing (2016–2020)
• Adjunct Faculty (2011–2014)

Aurora University

• Assistant Professor of Digital Marketing (2014–2016)

Harvard University (Division of Continuing Education / Summer School / Professional Development)

• Adjunct Faculty (2012–2018)

• Led comprehensive restructuring of the Social Media Marketing minor, strengthening curricular coherence, industry relevance, and enrollment appeal
• Designed and launched both synchronous and asynchronous social media courses across campus and online modalities, expanding access and instructional innovation
• Embedded experiential education throughout the curriculum through client-based projects serving nonprofits and small-to-medium enterprises, incorporating service learning, project-based learning, and pre-professional experiences, including domestic travel components
• Carried the highest advising load in the School of Business while maintaining strong student support and academic progression outcomes
• Contributed to a 75% enrollment increase within one academic year through program development and strategic recruitment support despite limited marketing resources
• Developed and implemented an assessment framework and reporting structure for the MSDMA program to strengthen accreditation readiness and continuous improvement
• Founded and launched the campus American Marketing Association chapter, expanding professional development and industry engagement opportunities for students
• Served as Honors Thesis Advisor; mentee recognized as Runner-Up Marketer of the Year at the International AMA Collegiate Conference

Southern New Hampshire University

• Assistant Vice President, Academic Affairs (2023–2026)
• Associate Dean (2021–2023)
• Chair, Center for Teaching and Learning (2020–2021)
• Marketing Program Coordinator (2019–2020)
• Director of Academic Innovation (2019–2020)

• Provided strategic leadership across Student Success & Persistence, General Education, First-Year Experience, Experiential Learning, Undergraduate Research, Study Abroad, and Faculty Development initiatives
• Directed a $1.5M academic operating budget supporting instructional quality, faculty development, and student success programs
• Redesigned adjunct onboarding and faculty advising models, improving instructional consistency and student support outcomes
• Led institutional preparation for ACBSP accreditation, coordinating cross-functional academic and assessment teams
• Contributed to a 500% increase in international graduate enrollment through program development and academic infrastructure support
• Architected the university-wide experiential learning strategy, embedding high-impact practices across curricula
• Developed school-wide assessment frameworks to strengthen learning outcomes, accreditation readiness, and continuous improvement

• The Nature Conservancy NH (Board Member)
• World Affairs Council NH (Board Member)
• City Year NH (Marketing and Development Committee)
• Missy’s Closet (Board Member)

• Delta Mu Delta Regional Representative
• Marketing Management Association President / Communications Director
• Proceedings Co-Editor
• Conference Organizer

• Graduate Council (Co-Chair)
• Institutional Review Board
• Faculty Senate
• Curriculum Committees
• AMA Faculty Advisor
• Center for Teaching and Learning Board (Chair)

Shapiro Grant (2018), Marketing Management Association Best Paper Award (2015), Young Scholars Award, John Jay College (2011)

• Softic, A., Samii, L., & Guldanan, A. (2025). Social media and women’s roles in Middle Eastern countries. Social Development Issues.
• Bingol, T. S., & Samii, L. (2023). Cross-cultural analysis of Facebook on global purchase. Journal of Marketing Development and Competitiveness.
• Kiprop, B., & Samii, L. (2021). Cause-related marketing in a polarized global marketplace. Journal of Brand Strategy, 9(3), 271–283.
• Bingol, T. S., & Samii, L. (2019). Co-communication and brand reflection in higher education: Perceptions of enrollment intention and recommending. Journal of Economic Sciences: Theory and Practice

• Samii, L. (2016). Engaging your global social media audience: A framework for e-retailers. In S. Dixit & A. K. Sinha (Eds.), E-retailing: Challenges and opportunities in the global marketplace (pp. 206–228). Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference.
• Strout, S., & Samii, L. (2009). The mating game: The extension of the Umwelt in the 21st century. In R. S. Chang (Ed.), Relating to environments: A new look at the Umwelt (pp. 105–115). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.

• Milewicz, C., Samii, L., & Hochradel, B. (Eds.). (2019). Cultural consciousness in business: MMA Spring 2019 Conference Proceedings.
• Lindgren, L., Samii, L., & Sullivan, U. (Eds.). (2018). The future of marketing is now: MMA Fall 2018 Conference Proceedings.
• Lindgren, L., & Samii, L. (Eds.). (2018). Putting the pieces together: Top educators + best practices + new technology = relevant outcomes. MMA Spring 2018 Conference Proceedings.

• Zahay, D., Samii, L., & Parker, J. (2016, September). Teaching digital marketing: Approaches to teaching social media for research and data analysis with Watson. Workshop presented at the Marketing Management Association Educators Conference, Providence, RI.
• Zahay, D., Samii, L., & Syrdal, H. (2018, September). Teaching digital marketing analytics: A “speed dating” approach to teaching social media analytics. Workshop presented at the Marketing Management Association Educators Conference, Kansas City, MO.

• Karadakis, K., & Samii, L. (2020, October 28–30). The mindfulness student experience in marketing and sport. Paper presented at the Marketing Management Association Conference (Virtual).
• Amendah, E., & Samii, L. (2018, September). Social media is a technical skill: Why are we using it as a transferable skill in pedagogy? Paper presented at the Marketing Management Association Educators Conference, Kansas City, MO.
• Samii, L. (2016, September). A look at social media courses through the years: The balance of theory and application. Paper presented at the Marketing Management Association Educators Conference, Providence, RI.
• Samii, L. (2015, May). Motivating collaborative learning through a constructivist approach: The Happyin21 social media campaign. Paper presented at the Racom IMC Roundtable, Chicago, IL.
• Samii, L., & Coker, K. (2015, March). Brand in the mirror: Toward brand identity-image congruence in social media marketing. Paper presented at the Marketing Management Association Spring Conference. (Best Paper Award, Digital Marketing Track)
• Samii, L., Nugent, N., & Lynch, A. (2014, October). Global market segments on social media: Clustering country-specific factors and social technographic profiles. Paper presented at the Marketing Edge Research Summit, San Diego, CA.
• Samii, L., Nugent, N., & Nugent, N. (2014, January). The social media marketing literature coalesces in 2013. Paper presented at the International Academy of Business and Public Administration Disciplines Conference.
• Samii, L. (2013, October). Country characteristics for a successful social media strategy: A cluster analysis approach. Paper presented at the Direct/Interactive Marketing Research Summit, Chicago, IL.
• Samii, L., Byrne, K., & Nugent, N. (2010, October). Dynamic factors for marketing with social media. Paper presented at the Association of International Business New England Conference, Hartford, CT.
• Samii, L., & Falkenbach, D. (2009, March). Psychopathic-like traits, the behavioral inhibition system, the behavioral activation system, and anxiety. Paper presented at the American Psychology and Law Society Conference, San Antonio, TX.

• Samii, L. (n.d.). Social media. Invited presentation, Harvard Program for Asian and International Relations.
• Samii, L. (n.d.). Marketing strategy and social media. Invited presentation, Harvard Kennedy School Marketing Department.
• Samii, L. (n.d.). Digital and social media strategy. Invited presentation, Amsted Industries International Human Resource Conference.
• Samii, L. (n.d.). Marketing for nonprofit organizations. Invited presentation, Naperville Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit Conference.
• Samii, L. (n.d.). Social media strategy and tourism marketing. Invited presentation, New Hampshire Tourism Annual Conference.

• Southern New Hampshire University
• Undergraduate Courses
• Introduction to Marketing
• Foundations of Marketing
• Digital Marketing (course developer)
• Social Media and Marketing Communication
• Social Media Marketing Strategy
• Social Media Marketing Management (course developer)
• Social Media Marketing Analytics (course developer)
• Direct Marketing
• Data-Driven Decision Making (co-taught)
• International Marketing
• Mindfulness in Business and Sport (course developer)
• Introduction to International Business
• Introduction to Information Technology
• Business Systems Analysis & Design
• Graduate Courses
• Marketing Strategy
• Social Media
• Social Media Marketing Management
• Multinational Marketing
• Doctoral Instruction