Dr. Samuel “Dr. B” Betances is the commencement speaker for the Fanuchånan 2023 Commencement at the University of Guam. 

Dr. Betances was a high school dropout who beat the odds and completed a Master of Education and Doctorate in Education from Harvard University. He taught at Northeastern Illinois University as a Professor of Sociology for 25 years. 

With the help of a caring mentor, he made reading the motivating power source that fueled his journey from failure to success. 

Books served as his bridge out of poverty. 

He has also delivered keynote speeches at conferences on diversity and equity, cultural identity, language and culture preservation, indigenous rights, education, identity issues, trauma-informed care, resiliency and social change for over 40 years. He has worked in 18 countries, all 50 states, all U.S. Territories, and throughout the Micronesia region as Senior Diversity, Equity and Inclusion trainer and consultant for Souder, Betances and Associates Inc. 

Dr. Betances lectured at the Harvard School of Education’s “Art of Leadership” Summer Institute.  

He is most known for his advocacy related to recruiting, mentoring, retaining and graduating First-Generation Students. He authored several books on this issue including “Ten Steps to the Head of the Class” (available in English and CHamoru); and “Winning the Future through Education: One Step at a Time,” on turning bad study habits into effective strategies for academic success. 

Dr. Betances is a Sunday columnist for The Guam Daily Post and recently co-authored four books in the series titled “Island Insights,” with his wife Dr. Laura M. Torres Souder.