Academic leadership not just about personal achievement, but also helping others discover their potential — Humphrey Samuel

 

Humphrey Sam Samuel has been active in scholarship leadership since his undergraduate days as the president and secretary of the chemistry student organisations at the Federal University Wukari (FUW), Taraba State, Nigeria. He is currently a doctoral student at Emory University, Georgia, United States, where he teaches, researches, serves, volunteers, and leads in many capacities that have won him grants, fellowships, and awards. He volunteers through membership on editorial journal boards. In this interview with REMI FEYISIPO, he spoke about his scholarly and leadership endeavours, and also about leadership in the Nigerian education sector. Excerpts:

How would you define leadership in the context of your scholarly journey and what leadership ideals do you live by?

Leadership, to me, is the intentional use of one’s position, knowledge, and influence to create pathways for others. In my scholarly journey, leadership has been about showing up consistently, serving others, and pushing boundaries in ways that inspire those around me.

The leadership ideals I live by are integrity, collaboration, and impact. I believe that a true leader listens as much as he speaks, mentors as much as he achieves, and remains committed to excellence even when no one is watching. As an undergraduate student at the Federal University Wukari (FUW), Taraba State, Nigeria, where you made a First Class from the Department of Industrial Chemistry, you served as the student president of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the secretary of the American Chemical Society of the university’s chapter.

What lessons did serving in these capacities teach you, and how did it influence your future academic and leadership goals?

Serving as the president of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) of FUW international student chapter and as the secretary of the American Chemical Society (ACS) of FUW international student chapter taught me the importance of building community, fostering collaboration, and advocating for the value of science education in environments where resources are limited.

As the president of the RSC, FUW chapter, I spearheaded initiatives to promote chemistry education, grew our membership significantly, and represented the chapter at university-wide events. As the ACS FUW Secretary, I learned the discipline of record-keeping, communication, and organisational management. Together, these experiences taught me that leadership in academia is not just about personal achievement, but about creating an environment where others can thrive and discover their own potential.

Last year, you started your PhD programme in Physical Chemistry at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States. How have you demonstrated scholarly and community leadership since starting the Emory programme?

One month after joining Emory, I became the secretary of the Pi Alpha Chemical Society (PACS), actively fostering collaboration among graduate students and organising departmental events. These efforts were recognised with the Heart of Emory SOAR Award by Emory Student Involvement, Leadership, and Transitions Campus Life.

I also served as a graduate teaching assistant, directly impacting the academic development of about 30 undergraduate students per semester through laboratory instruction in physical chemistry concepts and principles of reactivity, fostering critical thinking and scientific communication skills. Beyond the campus, I volunteered and participated in the Atlanta Science Festival with PACS, National Organisation for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) and Association for Women in Science (AWIS), which impacted over 2000 attendee including students, families, and different organisations engaging directly with children and students to bring the wonders of chemistry to life through hands-on demonstrations and interactive activities inspiring the next generation of scientists across the Atlanta metropolitan area.

I was also awarded the 2026 Piedmont TATTO Fellowship in Sustainability and Curriculum Development at Emory’s Office of Sustainability Initiatives, contributing to sustainability-focused curricula that directly influence the academic experience of more than 10,000 students, faculty, and staff across the Emory University community. This fellowship comes with a monetary value of $500 and a field trip.

My PhD journey at Emory has been tremendously rewarding, intellectually challenging, and deeply fulfilling.

Recently, you were awarded the CAS Future Leaders Award by CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society, and the Leadership Development Award by the Younger Chemists Committee of the American Chemical Society. What are these awards about, and what do they mean to you and your scholarship?

The CAS Future Leaders Award is one of the most prestigious early-career recognitions in the global chemical sciences community, selecting only 30 emerging scientific leaders and the top 100 worldwide each year from a highly competitive international pool of candidates. This involves a fully funded trip to CAS headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, for a two-week leadership programme, Chicago for the ACS Fall 2026 conference, and a stipend of $1,000. Being selected as one of these 30 leaders is a profound honour that affirms the global significance and impact of my research contributions in the field of chemistry with respect to environmental remediation, sustainable nanotechnology, and green chemistry-driven solutions for addressing water pollution and climate change, as well as my research on safer management of nuclear waste, a challenge of critical national and environmental importance.

The Younger Chemist Leadership Development Award supported my participation in the ACS Younger Chemists Leadership Development Track, equipping me with invaluable training in scientific leadership, advocacy, and professional development in service of the American Chemical Society’s mission of advancing the broader chemistry enterprise for the benefit of humanity.

These awards confirm that the hard work, dedication, and passion I have poured into my research and community service have been recognised at the highest levels of global science, which has inspired the next generation of scientists, particularly young Africans aspiring to make their mark on the world.

You recently announced that you participated in the Green Chemistry for Climate and Sustainability Certificate Programme by the Yale School of the Environment. What is the programme about, and how did it impact your work?

The Green Chemistry for Climate and Sustainability Certificate Programme at the Yale School of the Environment is a highly competitive scholarship programme that trains emerging scientists in the principles and applications of green chemistry for addressing climate change and sustainability challenges. The programme taught me how chemistry can be used as a powerful tool for environmental sustainability and provided me with a broader interdisciplinary perspective on the intersection of chemistry, policy, and sustainable development. This was achieved through capstone projects, peer discussions, and weekly sessions.

It significantly impacted my research by enabling me to think about how I can promote sustainability in my research and by connecting me with a global network of like-minded researchers and practitioners committed to advancing sustainability through chemistry.

Your bio reveals that as a peer reviewer of scholarly publications, you have completed 24 manuscript reviews across 12 international journals, contributed to six published articles through high-quality review reports, and supported 121 authors in improving research quality. Do you regard all this as a form of leadership endeavour?

Absolutely. Peer review is one of the most important forms of scientific leadership. Reviewing more than 40 manuscripts across 19 international journals, including Scientific Reports, Environmental Geochemistry and Health, and Environmental Science Europe, and supporting 121 authors in improving their research quality in 2025 alone, I contribute directly to maintaining the integrity of the global scientific literature while continuously sharpening my own critical thinking and analytical skills. Being appointed as a Reviewing Editor for Springer Nature at such an early career stage — a role reserved for only the most trusted experts across chemistry, environmental science, nanotechnology, and materials science — is a recognition I hold with great pride and responsibility, and a testament to my commitment to upholding the highest standards of scientific rigour for the benefit of the global scientific community.

Your bio also shows that you volunteer through membership on editorial journal boards, membership in certified bodies, and fellowship activities. How do you manage all these with your Emory PhD programme?

Time management, prioritisation, and passion are my three greatest tools. My doctoral research and academic responsibilities always come first, but I firmly believe that a scientist’s responsibility extends beyond the laboratory. I intentionally carve out time for volunteer and service commitments, viewing them not as distractions but as complementary dimensions of my development as a scientist and leader.

My memberships in the Royal Society of Chemistry and the American Chemical Society keep me connected to the broader scientific community and continuously inspire me through the work of my peers worldwide.

If you were Nigeria’s minister of education, what three problems would you like to address in the education sector, and how would you address them?

As someone who has received over 20-million-naira research grant that has impacted the field of chemistry, I would establish a competitive national research grant system targeting early-career researchers and undergraduates.

I would integrate research into undergraduate education from year one. I published my first peer-reviewed article as an undergraduate, a practice that made me globally competitive before I even held a postgraduate degree. If Nigerian universities embedded research into undergraduate curricula systematically, our graduates would arrive at international institutions as already-published contributors, not beginners. Lastly, I would expand access and equity through targeted scholarships for underserved communities and digital infrastructure investment.

You studied in Nigeria for your undergraduate degree and might have witnessed the recurrent impassable problems between the Federal Government and university academic unions like ASUU, NASU, SSANU, etc. What kind of leadership would you recommend that would bring a sustainable solution to these unions’ demands?

Having studied through multiple ASUU strikes that collectively cost Nigerian students months and sometimes years of their study time, I would recommend establishing an independent, permanently constituted tripartite committee that meets quarterly to review and address welfare, funding, and infrastructure benchmarks before they escalate into strikes. I would implement a transparent university funding tracking system that makes government allocations and their utilisation publicly accountable. Additionally, I would invest meaningfully and consistently in university welfare and infrastructure.

Now that you are in the United States, do you mentor Nigerian students, especially undergraduate students at Federal University Wukari?

Yes, absolutely. Mentoring the next generation of Nigerian scientists is something I am deeply passionate about and actively engaged in. In May 2026, I delivered a virtual training session to members of the American Chemical Society, Federal University Wukari Chapter, on ‘Owning the room: Translating internship lessons into memorable visual narratives.’ I maintain active research collaborations and provide ongoing guidance on scientific writing, grant applications, and career development to students and researchers at Federal University Wukari.

Through the Mentor Access Initiative, I also serve as a resource and inspiration for young Nigerian chemistry students aspiring to pursue graduate studies abroad, sharing my experiences, providing practical advice, and advocating for greater investment in science education across Nigeria and Africa.

How would you advise undergraduate students on how to effectively manage academic work and leadership work and still graduate with stellar results as you did?

My advice to undergraduate students is simple: create a school-life balance and put God first. Develop a strong commitment to academic excellence from day one. Your grades and research output are the foundation upon which everything else is built. Get involved in extracurricular and leadership activities strategically, choosing roles that genuinely align with your passions and long-term goals. And cultivate strong relationships with your professors, mentors, and peers.