Robert Newman joined AGB Search in 2026. Dr. Newman served as president and director of the National Humanities Center from 2015–2024, where he expanded the Center’s scholarly reach, strengthened diversity initiatives, and broadened public engagement with the humanities. Previously, he was Dean of the College of Humanities, Professor of English, and Associate Vice President for Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Utah. In these roles, he increased philanthropic support, expanded interdisciplinary programs, and advanced diversity across faculty and academic initiatives. Throughout his career, Dr. Newman has demonstrated a strong commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship, institutional leadership, and the promotion of the humanities in higher education.
Experience and Honors
Dr. Newman has held leadership and faculty roles at several major research universities. At the University of Utah, he served as Dean of the College of Humanities, Professor of English, and Associate Vice President for Interdisciplinary Studies. As dean, he significantly increased philanthropic and institutional support for the college, expanded academic programs, and strengthened diversity in faculty recruitment and student engagement. He also founded the nation’s first graduate program in Environmental Humanities and led the development of the Taft/Nicholson Center for Environmental Humanities in Centennial Valley, Montana, advancing interdisciplinary research and teaching focused on environmental issues.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Newman served on the faculty at the University of South Carolina, where he chaired the Department of English, and he held appointments at Texas A&M University and the College of William and Mary.
Dr. Newman is the author of six books as well as numerous articles, reviews, and poems. For more than twenty-five years, he has served as General Editor of the “Cultural Frames, Framing Culture” series published by the University of Virginia Press. He has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus by both Penn State and the University of North Carolina.
Education
