Robert Simmons III, EdD
Robert Simmons III, EdD is President of Service Year Alliance - an organization dedicated to making a year of service a common expectation and opportunity for all young Americans.
Prior to becoming the President of Service Year Alliance, Robert was the Vice President of Strategy and Innovation for the Campaign for Black Male Achievement. As a nationally recognized scholar and expert on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, Robert has authored over 40 publications focusing on a variety of issues including service learning in urban communities and urban education. During his time as the Chief of Innovation & Research in the District of Columbia Public Schools, Dr. Simmons' leadership was critical to the development of city wide efforts to increase opportunities for boys of color.
Robert has served as a tenured professor of urban education and science education at Loyola University Maryland, and as a research associate at the Baltimore Education Research Consortium at Johns Hopkins University. A former middle school science and math teacher in the Detroit Public Schools, his career has included being nominated twice as the Walt Disney National Teacher of the Year and once for the Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Foundation Outstanding Educator Award. Robert has been a fellow with the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Foundation and participated in the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund.
Robert currently serves as the Chair of the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Committee for FIRST and as a Adjunct Professorial Lecturer at American University's School of Education.