Vice President for Student Affairs &
Title IX Coordinator (students)
Dr. Pool serves as the vice president for student affairs at Ashland University. Prior to this appointment, he served as the vice president for student life & dean of students at Houghton College in western New York from 2013-2018 guiding the transition from NAIA to NCAA DIII and developing strategic, intercultural improvements campus-wide. From 2007 -2012, Rob directed the student activities department for Hobart & William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y. linking the academic arts programs with campus and community wide programs, and expanding club sports for women. From 1997 – 2007, Dr. Pool developed the center for student engagement to expand mission driven service and service learning via federal and private grant initiatives as the assistant dean at the University of Evansville (IN).
He received his Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership & Foundations from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Ind., in 2012, with his dissertation titled "Raising African American graduation rates: A best practices study of predominantly White institutions." He received his M.A. in Counseling and Higher Education Administration in 1997 and his B.A. in Philosophy & Speech Communication in 1995, both from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Rob lives in Ashland Ohio with his wife Kim and three children.
