Published on September 2, 2022  
David Presley cs071600117

Samford University is eager to welcome back David Presley in his new role as the Director of Diversity and Access Recruitment in the Office of Admission. 

In this position, Presley will be responsible for directing Samford’s recruitment efforts for students of color, first-generation students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

“My role underscores the emphasis and commitment Samford continues to make to fulfill its vision for a diverse learning community,” said Presley. “As a Samford alumnus, who was also proudly a first-generation student from a diverse background, I am most excited to continue to support clear lanes of access for all admissible students. I count it a personal privilege to be on the front porch to offering students the space to see themselves not just attend Samford – but to flourish here and earn a Samford degree.”

Presley is hitting the ground running, ready to take on the challenges ahead and see results.

“I spent my first week charting short, mid, and long-term action items. Almost all of them will necessitate at least some level of partnership with our fantastic campus community. A tangible example of this is the recent translation of our most high-traffic undergraduate admission webpages to better serve our prospective families with a Spanish-speaking background. That enterprise would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of our colleagues in World Languages and University Advancement and Marketing,” said Presley.

Presley’s appointment and the creation of this position speaks to the vital importance to the continued success of recruiting, enrolling and graduating Samford students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.