The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s new director of the Office of Grant sand Faculty Development has commanded local police departments, taught in higher education classrooms and helped author more than $200 million in college and university grant and contracting projects.
UW Oshkosh announced Robert W. Roberts as the office’s new director on May 17. Roberts will begin his role at UW Oshkosh July 1.
“I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to join a team of highly competent professionals at a University that is considered a leader in faculty development and grant work in the state of Wisconsin,” Roberts said.
Roberts most recently served as Interim Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs, Senior Grants and Project Development Specialist and Criminal Justice Assistant Professor at UW-Platteville. He was previously Dean of Criminal Justice and Executive Director of Federal Relations for Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton. From 1994 through 2000, he served as Chief of Police and Village Administrator in the Village of Waunakee. He served in those same roles in the town of Iron River from 1993 to 1995.
UW Oshkosh Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Perry Rettig said Roberts’ experience immediately puts him in a position to help advance an office with a distinction in the UW System – one that combines faculty development and grant efforts under one roof, led and coordinated by one director and a team of colleagues.
“Bob will be able to come in on Day One and advance an already excellent, highly-regarded program and take it to a new level on behalf of faculty, staff and students,” Rettig said.
Roberts earned his bachelor of arts in criminal justice from UW-Platteville. He earned a masters of science in education from Capella University in Minneapolis, MN and a masters of public administration from UW Oshkosh.
“The staff at UW Oshkosh impressed me with their dedication and passion, and I am confident that I will be able to establish immediate success with faculty who are committed to innovation and progress,” Roberts said.
“Being invited to work alongside professionals who share a vision for expanding programming and improving service to students humbles me, and I am excited to take on new challengers and meet new colleagues,” he said.
Between 2000 and 2012, the UW Oshkosh Office of Grants & Faculty Development has helped the institution grow its annual grants and private support from $8.8 million to $11.8 million, a 34 percent increase. Since 2000, the Faculty Development Fund has awarded more than $6 million for teaching, research, small grants, sabbatical and other opportunities. Among its many accomplishments in the 2011-12 academic year, the office helped secure UW Oshkosh’s two largest grants: $385,635 from the U.S. Department of Education supporting the Student Support Services Program; and $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy, supportive of UW Oshkosh’s innovative Anaerobic Dry Digestion facility, or biodigester. The office also helped support a record-breaking 34 scholarly papers, submitted to the UW Oshkosh undergraduate research journal “Oshkosh Scholar.”
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