NOVA Grants Officer Rob Henderson to Retire

Known to many at NOVA who have enjoyed his good-humor and friendship–and also known for his stories of landing in dubious places around the world in his former occupations–Robert (Rob) E. Henderson will be retiring from NOVA’s Office of Grants. His last day in the office will be Feb. 4.

Rob joined NOVA in 2007, rotating through a series of semi-permanent office spaces his first year that included sharing an un-air-conditioned trailer before finding his college home in the building known as Pitney Bowes (which has long since departed). As a Grants Officer, Rob provided his expertise and technical assistance to dozens and dozens of faculty and staff and was responsible as the grants lead for landing major, multi-year grants from the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Security Agency and the National Science Foundation, among other federal agencies, that have provided immense benefits to the college. He also stepped in at different times to direct NOVA grants projects at the MEC and even in South Africa.

An early hallmark of his career at NOVA was working with Dr. Syedur Rahman on a U.S. Department of State application in 2010 that created the Community College Consortium (CCC). Starting with just four colleges, it is now a national partnership of nearly 30 community colleges, led by NOVA, that has hosted nearly 3,600 international students since its inception. The CCC program has been awarded approximately $60 million in the past 11 years to promote international exchanges all over the world.

Rob will be missed as a friend to all and for his quintessential Texas sayings. His service at NOVA caps a long career previously spent working as a public servant for the U.S. government, the United Nations and for various non-profit institutions to promote international cooperation and building democratic transitions abroad; goals that are near to his heart. He is looking forward to spending more time with his family, particularly his cat Barney and grandchildren (in that order), after a trip to Hawaii for rest and relaxation with his wife Leilani. Please wish him good travel (and a good cat cartoon) if you see him before then.

Submitted by:
Susi Mattheisen, Grants Officer, SMattheisen@nvcc.edu