Robert joined the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in August 2024. With more than thirty-five years of progressive leadership experience, Robert has built an impressive track record during a successful fundraising career. His passion and goals throughout his career have centered on creating lasting organizational impact and value, with evidence of vision and effective strategic planning and implementation. Prior to his start with the Freedom Center, Robert spent six years at Equitas Health, where he served as the Chief Advancement Officer responsible for a complex philanthropic program, events management, advocacy, communications, marketing, and public relations. He always served as Equitas Health's Interim CEO & President for twenty-one months. Robert spent twenty years at Wright State University where he served as the Associate Vice President for Advancement at Boonshoft School of Medicine. Also, during his time at Wright State, Robert was responsible for leading the University’s first fundraising campaign as the

Associate Vice President for Development where he led an integrated, comprehensive international fundraising program across the University’s 11 schools and colleges. Robert has worked at Wilberforce University and the University of Dayton. He has a proven fundraising ability to inspire donors to philanthropic leadership – having raised over $361 million across his professional career. Philanthropy has been and will be Robert’s life work. He is an active volunteer in numerous civic and professional organizations. Robert embodies the four “C’s” essential to the business of philanthropy – compassion, commitment, clarity of thought, and common sense.