Robert Dearth
Interim Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Dr. Robert K. Dearth serves as Interim Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), where he leads initiatives that strengthen faculty success, leadership development, and institutional effectiveness. A nationally recognized toxicological endocrinologist and accomplished academic leader, Dr. Dearth brings extensive experience in guiding organizational change, building high-performing academic programs, and developing future leaders. As the founding director of UTRGV’s School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences and former chair of Biology and Chemistry, he has successfully led transformative initiatives that enhance faculty excellence and student outcomes. Combining strategic thinking, data-informed decision-making, and a people-centered leadership approach, Dr. Dearth offers practical insights that empower leaders to navigate complex challenges, foster collaboration, and create lasting organizational impact. Dr. Dearth has partnered with Academic Impressions to build leadership capacity at UTRGV and is a trained Five Paths facilitator.