As Chief Operations Officer at RCL, Sam Reynolds is constantly working to enhance the student experience. He believes that education and innovation go hand in hand and takes great pride in building a vibrant community that drives this mission forward.

Sam is most inspired by the opportunity to collaborate with RCL students. Their passion and energy fuel his work, making every day a fulfilling and exciting experience.

Sam holds a BA in Criminology and an MA in Criminology, Youth Justice and Community Safety – both from Middlesex University London. Sam has extensive experience in both public and private higher education. He started his career in a graduate teaching role, where he gained valuable insights into academic life.

Since then, he has gained experience across academic administration, student support, registry and broader university operations. This diverse background has equipped Sam with a comprehensive understanding of higher education, enabling him to continuously enhance the student and staff experience at RCL.

Sam’s career highlights include supporting RCL to achieve a 92% student satisfaction rate in wellbeing services in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2024 and overseeing the successful opening of two new RCL campuses within a year. Sam has developed and implemented strategies to enhance efficiency and improve stakeholder experiences across various roles. He has also completed training at Stanford University in innovation and company culture, become a Fellow of the Association of Higher Education Professionals (AHEP), and championed equality and diversity initiatives, including leading unconscious bias training to foster an inclusive environment.