Rob has 15 years of experience both conducting research and working in the field to tackle issues relating to labor and the workforce. His recent work includes an analysis focusing on the Perceptions of Career and Technical Education in Missouri in partnership with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education along with programs highlighting new approaches to employee recruitment. Rob also teaches non-credit and credit courses on labor and employment law, including courses focusing on the National Labor Relations Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act. A native of Rolla, Rob earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Geography from the University of Missouri-Columbia; a Master of Science (MS) in Geography from the University of Alabama; and a PhD in Geography from the University of Iowa.