Linda M. Sama, Ph.D. is the Associate Dean for Global
Initiatives and a Professor of Management in St. John’s The Peter
J. Tobin College of Business. Most recently, she launched the
University’s Global Microloan Program (GLOBE) and serves as the
Program Director. She earned her Ph.D. in Strategic Management from
the City University of New York, a Master’s in Philosophy at Baruch
(CUNY) and an M.B.A. in International Finance from McGill
University. Her inauguration of GLOBE at St. John’s in 2009
introduced students to microfinance as practiced in some of the
world’s most impoverished communities. With the assistance of the
Daughters of Charity, GLOBE’s field partners, and with oversight
from the GLOBE Steering Committee, student managers of the program
review loan applications and assign loan terms, track funds, raise
money from donors, market the program and provide financial
literacy training and support to entrepreneurs as they develop
their business plans. Dr. Sama made the transition to academe after
a lengthy career in industry, where she served as Director of
Market Planning and Logistics for a major international subsidiary
of Transamerica Corporation. She continues to consult to industry
on strategic planning, global leadership and business ethics, has
offered related seminars and training sessions and has been an
invited speaker at a number of international conferences.