The “Presidential Priorities” series consist of a monthly interview between Brandon Busteed, Gallup’s Executive Director of Education, and Presidents of colleges and universities who have partnered with Gallup to publicly release GPI reports on their alumni and/or students. The interview highlights key insights from the GPI reports and is a great opportunity for Presidents to share their reactions to the GPI results and discuss ideas and implications for current and future practices at their campus and across higher education.

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DR. CHRISTOPHER B. HOWARD became the eighth president of Robert Morris University in suburban Pittsburgh on February 1, 2016. Dr. Howard is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he earned a B.S. in political science in 1991. A Rhodes scholar, he earned his doctorate in politics at Oxford University and an M.B.A. with distinction from the Harvard Business School. He received the Campbell Trophy, the highest academic award in the country presented to a senior college football player.

A retired Air Force reserve lieutenant colonel, Dr. Howard served as a helicopter pilot after earning his doctorate, and then became an intelligence officer for the elite Joint Special Operations Command. Defense Secretary William Cohen asked Dr. Howard to accompany a 1999 U.S. delegation to South Africa as a political-military advisor. He was called back to active duty during 2003 in Afghanistan, and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service. Dr. Howard also served as the Reserve Air Attaché to Liberia.

Prior to his appointment as president of RMU, Dr. Howard for six years was the president of Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia. He previously served as vice president for leadership and strategic initiatives at the University of Oklahoma. He also enjoyed a successful career in the corporate world, working at General Electric and Bristol-Myers Squibb.