Membro, Kumisión i Fino’ CHamoru

University of Guam Appointee

Dr. Robert Anacletus Underwood recently retired as the tenth President of the University of Guam and is a former Member of the United States Congress. As a lifelong teacher, he has served as a high school teacher, curriculum writer, administrator, Dean of the College of Education and Academic Vice President. He is a distinguished scholar with many publications on education, regional political issues, indigenous concerns and cultural change. He served as the Congressional Delegate from Guam in the 103-107th Congresses (1993-2003) during which he sponsored major legislation for Guam, played an active role in Department of Defense authorization bills and was a forceful advocate for political development for insular areas. He was an original member of the Organization of People for Indigenous Rights, appeared before the United Nations in 1982, led the fight against the Guam Constitution in 1979 and was a community organizer in the 1970s and 1980s by organizing demonstrations, petition drives and raising as much help as he could legally do. Throughout his professional life, he has pursued his passion as a student of and advocate for the CHamoru language. He served as Chair of the CHamoru Language Commission for a decade.