Robert Hamm, Ph.D., serves as Assistant Dean and Chief of Staff for the Graduate Division at UC Santa Barbara, where he has spent more than a decade working to strengthen the graduate student experience and support the Division's strategic mission. Partnering closely with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Graduate Affairs and Graduate Dean, he oversees division-wide operations, student support services, budget strategy, compliance, and systems infrastructure across the University's graduate programs. Before moving into administration, Robert was a tenure-track faculty member in English at Louisiana State University, an experience that continues to inform his deep appreciation for the challenges and rewards of graduate study. A graduate of the UC-Coro Systemwide Leadership Collaborative, he is particularly passionate about equity and creating the conditions for students from all backgrounds to thrive within and beyond the academy.