Cover Story: Robert Graham

Director Robert Graham Transforming Alumni Affairs and ENMU

By Wendel Sloan

Robert Graham’s (MA 12) recent promotion from coordinator to director of Alumni Affairs at Eastern New Mexico University was a popular decision.

“We felt Robert richly deserved this promotion,” said Dr. Steven Gamble, ENMU president. “He has moved the Alumni Association forward with a number of initiatives, including increased use of social media, electronic and personal communications, increasing membership and organizing more events. He is a great communicator, organizer and genuinely cares about Eastern. The Alumni Association Board of Directors is very pleased with Robert.”

Born in Charlotte, N.C., Robert, who has a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College and a master’s degree in English from ENMU, says, “My parents challenged me to realize my full potential from an early age. They are supportive, loving parents.”

Photo by Kait Roberts

Robert’s support of ENMU athletics comes naturally. In school he played football, basketball, ran cross country, pole-vaulted and ran the 400- and 800-meter races.

Randy Fowler (MEd 82, BS 74), president of the ENMU Alumni Association, says working with Robert has been a privilege.“Robert has increased the stability and structure of our organization. He is organized, responsible, effective and efficient in his role as director of the Alumni Affairs. With his limited staff, Robert has created a positive working relationship with board members, ENMU Foundation board members and the ENMU administration. He performs all his duties in a professional manner.”

Randy says one goal of the Alumni Association is to provide scholarships to deserving students.

“Our annual scholarship golf tournament has become very successful in the last few years due to the leadership from Robert and ENMU Board of Regents and Alumni Board Member Terry Othick.”

Randy says Robert has done an excellent job in reaching other goals, including: generating more unrestricted funds, educating future alumni on networking, developing a branding standard and cultivating alumni.

“Due to his hard work and personal integrity, Robert has gained the respect of all board members,” says Randy.

Melissa Sena, secretary for Alumni Affairs, is impressed with her boss. “Robert will help you in any way possible, whether you are a student, an employee, an alum or a person in the community. He is very dedicated to his job and any project we are involved in.”

The former firefighter for the Chickasaw Nation in Ada, Okla., says he plans to be a good steward of the resources at his disposal to strengthen Alumni Affairs, and its members will continue being ENMU’s biggest supporters.

Photo by Kait Roberts

For someone who recently turned 30, Robert has impressive credentials. He has volunteered with the Portales Chamber of Commerce (volunteer of the month, August 2014), Rotary International (board of directors), KENW-TV (auctioneer), United Way (community investment grant reviewer and volunteer), Council for Advancement and Support of Education (regional events volunteer), Roosevelt County Regional Spelling Bee (judge), ENMU Student Affairs (staff/faculty volunteer), New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home (volunteer service award recipient), Charlotte Mecklenburg Police (animal shelter volunteer), Theater Charlotte (sound technician), and many more.

Terry Othick (MBA 70, BBA 68), newly appointed member of the Board of Regents and chairman of the ENMU Alumni and Friends Scholarship Golf Tournament in Albuquerque, says, “Robert and his staff, as well as Noelle Bartl and her staff at the ENMU Foundation, have provided outstanding support to the tournament and have played a key role in its success. Since Robert’s arrival in Alumni Affairs, he has become a key member of our tournament committee.”

Terry says throughout the year Robert and his team assist in the collection and accounting of sponsorship and golf fees, promoting the event through media, and volunteering his and his staff’s time before and during the tournament.

He notes Robert is always looking for opportunities to promote the tournament to new sponsors and golfers and has taken the initiative to become acquainted with sponsors.

“Robert’s organizational skills, attention to detail, commitment and follow-through have helped transform this tournament into a well-planned and executed annual event,” says Terry.

Robert, an English composition instructor, who has authored numerous publications, is also spearheading a branding and licensing committee for ENMU to discontinue using the Zia as the name and symbol of women’s athletic teams. The student body voted in early April, 446 to 221 (67-33 percent) to recommend the University discontinue the use of the symbol. The issue will go to President Gamble to offer a recommendation to the ENMU Board of Regents.

The Alumni Association, Professional Senate and Student Senate also passed resolutions supporting Robert’s initiative.

The resolutions are in support of a resolution by the National Congress of American Indians supporting the Zia Pueblo’s “reclamation of their cultural rights in the Zia Sun Symbol.”

According to Robert, there are no legal restrictions barring ENMU from using the symbol, but it is an ethical issue in not exploiting a small New Mexico tribe of less than 700 people that does not have the resources to legally battle entities that use its symbol.

“No one is pressuring Eastern to do this,” says Robert. “It is just the right thing to do and will make ENMU a moral leader in respecting and honoring the Zia Pueblo’s right to the Zia symbol.”

There is also a financial consideration for Eastern because the University cannot trademark or license materials with the symbol.

If Eastern discontinues using the Zia symbol, Eastern’s women’s teams will be called “Greyhounds” along with their mail counterparts.

Reflecting on his time in New Mexico, the North Carolina native says, “I have cherished my time in the Land of Enchantment. Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Ruidoso, Roswell, Cimarron and Red River are places for which I have great affinity. I still need to visit Socorro, Alamogordo and Las Cruces.”