Robert D. Newman is President of the National Humanities Center, the only independent institute solely dedicated to the humanities. Previously, he served as Dean at the University of Utah, where he expanded programs, enhanced campus diversity, and established the nation's first graduate program in Environmental Humanities. Trained as a literary scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Newman's research focuses on twentieth-century English literature and narrative theory. A prolific author and recipient of various awards, he is dedicated to advancing the scholarly mission and public engagement of the humanities through his leadership and advocacy.