Alumni Spotlight: Rob DeHaas, Class of 2016

Rob DeHaas currently serves as the inaugural Vice Provost for Dallas College. In this role, Rob leads the Dallas College School of Education which launched in 2020 and created the first four-year bachelor’s degree program in early childhood education and teaching in the state of Texas.

Providing access to historical ‘non-consumers’ of higher education is a core focus of his work at Dallas College – going as far to say that “we have an obligation as an institution of higher education to break down systematic barriers that have historically prevented too many students from accessing more education.”

The Dallas College School of Education serves about 5,700 unique undergraduate students and is one of the largest undergraduate education schools in the state of Texas. Under Rob’s leadership, enrollment growth in the School of Education has exceeded 85 percent since 2020. 

”Leadership ISD’s Civic Voices Fellowship broadened my professional network to leaders and to stakeholders outside of the non-profit and education space – which was particularly impactful for me at the time as a young emerging leader,” shared Rob. “The fellowship also pushed me to think about the need to influence and make change at the system(s) level – which is needed to move the needle at the pace and at the scale necessary to ensure all children have access to high-quality educational opportunities in our state and across the country.”

Rob serves on several local, state, and national boards. These include: the NAEYC Higher Education Leadership Advisory Council, the Dallas County Blue Ribbon Child Care Commission, the PNC Bank Foundation Grow Up Great National Advisory Board, the Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System (TECPDS) Advisory Council, the Region 10 Head Start and Early Head Start Advisory Council, the Early Matters Dallas Advisory Board, the Texans Care for Children Leadership Council for School Readiness, and the Texas Teacher Preparation Regulatory Committee. 

Rob is an avid runner and sports fan. He lives in North Oak Cliff with his wife, 2 daughters, and rescue dog.