Meet Dr. Bob!
“I hope that my legacy will be viewed as helping foster a strong organization that continues to serve as the preeminent voice for children in Texas. That CHILDREN AT RISK is seen as organization that isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions & demand the most from our public servants.”
—Dr. Bob Sanborn
For Children Legacy Society Member
Dr. Bob is a noted leader, advocate, and activist for education and children and the President and CEO of CHILDREN AT RISK. He earned his undergraduate degree at Florida State University and his doctorate at Columbia University in New York City. Before entering the non-profit sector, he had a distinguished career in higher education at institutions such as Rice University and Hampshire College.
Under his 17 years of leadership, CHILDREN AT RISK has expanded its influence considerably. Notable achievements include opening up centers in Dallas and Fort Worth; launching the Public Policy & Law Center, the CHILDREN AT RISK Institute, the Center for Parenting and Family Well-Being and the Center to End Trafficking and Exploitation of Children. Dr. Bob is the Executive Editor of two peer reviewed, open-access academic journals, the Journal of Applied Research on Children and the Journal of Family Strengths, and is an adjunct professor of Leadership in Non-Profit Organizations and Resourcing the Non-Profit Organization at University of Houston-Downtown.
When did you first hear about CHILDREN AT RISK?
In 2005 when a former member of the Board, Nancy Darst, approached me to see if I’d be interested in being the CEO. Prior to that, I had been the CEO of Education Foundation of Harris County and had a career in academia.
What made you want to get involved with the organization?
I think it was in part because of my own background as a 1st generation college student and knowing that there was a significant population of children in the state of Texas that needed a voice in public policy.
What is something that CHILDREN AT RISK has done since your involvement that you are proud of?
I am most proud of the great staff that I’ve had the privilege to work with over my 17 years with the organization. I also view our work regarding human trafficking, our bill to mandate school breakfast across Texas schools, as well as our annual school rankings as some of the key highlights for me personally and the history of CHILDREN AT RISK.
How do you see the state of children changing in the far future?
In Texas, things have to improve if we want to secure a bright future for our children. We need significantly more time and attention devoted to children’s issues across the state ranging from early childhood education to our opportunity youth populations. It’s nice to be optimistic about children’s futures, but we need to be much more intentional about meeting the needs of our children.
What legacy do you hope to leave for children?
I hope that my legacy will be viewed as helping foster a strong organization that continues to serve as the preeminent voice for children in Texas. That CHILDREN AT RISK is seen as organization that isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions & demand the most from our public servants.
What impact has CHILDREN AT RISK left on you?
Simply this—it’s turned into my life’s work. I think CHILDREN AT RISK is the most important thing that I’ve done in my life, and I’m proud of everything that has happened during my time here. I continue to be most proud of the individuals that I’ve worked with both on our staff and across our state’s diverse communities on behalf of children to secure a promising future for Texas.