Samuel Edward Braden (1914–2003) served as the tenth president of Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. He was recognized for his work during an incredibly tumultuous time in United States history, as life proved difficult amidst the Vietnam War. While controversial, his presidency was among several fleeting terms held by other university presidents during this time. He served at Illinois State University between 1967 and 1970, a mere three years. The average term of presidency at the university during this time was only five years, as many presidents sought to develop their professional achievements elsewhere.

Illinois State University (ISU) is a public research university in Normal, Illinois. It was founded in 1857 as Illinois State Normal University and is the oldest public university in Illinois. The university emphasizes teaching and is recognized as one of the top ten largest producers of teachers in the US according to the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".