Rob Kerr

Rob Kerr is an accomplished educational leader and innovator with extensive experience in higher education and economic opportunity initiatives. Currently serving as the Executive Director of Innovation and Opportunity at the University of Illinois Springfield, Rob leads the development of the UIS downtown innovation center while also teaching courses in Leadership and Management of Public Organizations. Previous roles include Director and Associate Director of Continuing and Professional Education at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, where Rob managed various tax credit programs and ensured the entrepreneurial ecosystem met stakeholder needs. Rob's career also includes positions at multiple community colleges and universities, where key responsibilities involved curriculum development, grant acquisition, and student success oversight. Rob holds a Doctor of Public Administration from the University of Illinois Springfield, an MBA from Benedictine University, and a BA in Political Science from Loyola University Chicago.