Shelley Samuels
Shelley Samuels is an expert in nonprofit leadership and innovation, with more than 40 years of experience in human services and healthcare organizations. She brings a deep and broad understanding of the challenges organization face as they strive to move from good to great, maximizing their impact. Shelley has a BA in Psychology and a Masters degree in Public Administration from Rutgers University. Her skill were further honed at the highly regarded Executive Leadership Program at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business as well as the Executive Education in Finance and Accounting program at New York University’s Stern School of Business.
Most recently, Shelley served as the Chief Program Officer of Easterseals New Jersey. She instilled a data-informed culture there while developing a line of business that brings smart management of electronic health records systems to organizations across the field. As an innovator in her field, she has developed, implemented and directed a wide variety of services for thousands of persons with intellectual, developmental, mental health, hearing loss, visual impairments and substance-related disabilities as well as for veterans and seniors.
Prior to Easterseals New Jersey, Shelley was Chief Compliance Officer and Director of Business Development for Enable, Inc. and Grants Administrator for the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities.
Her unparalleled success securing and managing grants and contracts is a testament to her drive to bring resources to organizations striving to be best-in-class. This includes funding from Projects of National Significance from the US HHS, US Administration on Aging, US Corporation for National and Community Service, SAMHSA, HUD and a federal healthcare insurance education project.
Shelley has served as management and development consultant for federally qualified health centers, medical centers, hospices and health-and-human-service nonprofits. She’s also provided consulting on innovative projects involving medical legal partnerships and older-adult services. She is regularly requested to speak, often to national audiences, on disability rights, EHR best practices, behavioral health homes and access to employment.
