Concord resident Robert Munro was honored by state Rep. Simon Cataldo at the 2023 Black Excellence on the Hill ceremony sponsored by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus in April.
Munro graduated from Bates College, where he majored in philosophy and religion and earned his doctorate in philosophy at Michigan State University.
As a student, he discovered that he enjoyed teaching, leading him to the Middlesex School in Concord. He taught history and coached tennis, a sport that he played in college, along with squash and soccer. He is the founder of the Middlesex School’s Global Studies Program, with a focus on bringing the outside world to students and engaging students in difficult conversations. At Middlesex, Rob also served as a dormitory assistant and lived on campus with his wife and two daughters.
Today, Rob serves as the first Dean of Academic Program and Equity at Concord Academy. He has held this position since February 2020. In this position, Rob oversees the academic program and leads the institution’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice efforts. This role includes the development of personal responsibility in cultural competency institution-wide, and an awareness of thoughtful stewardship of our world and its critical resources.
Rob was the first Chair of the Town of Concord’s inaugural DEI Commission. He also currently serves on the Board of Governors at the Concord Museum, the Town of Concord’s 250th Commission, and the Concord Center Cultural District Committee.
“Through his work as an educator and a town volunteer, Rob is taking the lead on some of our community’s most important discussions concerning race, equity, and social justice, while advancing our collective understanding of Concord’s history,” Cataldo said. “Rob is a thoughtful, collaborative advocate. I’m eager to continue to work with Rob on a variety of issues, and I feel so grateful to call him a constituent and a friend.” At the event at the State House, attendees heard remarks from Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Chairman Bud Williams, and Keynote Speaker Bishop Talbert W. Swan II.
After the event, the Massachusetts Black and Latino Caucus served all attendees lunch provided by local black-owned businesses. All honorees were presented citations by the Caucus membership.