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Robert Aaron

Robert Aaron

He/Him
  • Executive Director, Student Affairs Assessment and Planning, Northwestern University
  • Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy

Contact

robert.aaron@northwestern.edu

Academic Area

Higher Education Administration and Policy

Research Interests

Assessment methods, creativity, college student identity development.

Biography

Dr. Robert W. Aaron is Executive Director of Student Affairs Assessment and Planning at Northwestern University. In this position he leads assessment, research, and decision support for 25 administrative units comprising the Division of Student Affairs. He also serves as an instructor in Northwestern's Higher Education Administration and Policy program. He came to Northwestern in 2016.

Prior to NU, Rob worked in a variety of capacities in higher education for twenty years at four institutions: He led assessment in two other student affairs divisions, managed client services for a national survey on the college-student experience, directed new-student orientation and first-year experience programs, and coordinated fraternity/sorority life and student organizations.

In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family, frequenting Ravinia, and knitting hats.

Education

  • PhD, Higher Education, Indiana University Bloomington
  • MA, Higher Education & Student Affairs, The Ohio State University
  • BA, Music, University of Rochester

Select Publications

Aaron, R. W. & Cogswell, C. A. (2022). The on ramp: Essential entry level experience and skills in student affairs assessment. New Directions for Student Services, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1002/ss.20426

Busby, A. K. & Aaron, R. W. (2021, April). Advances, contributions, obstacles, and opportunities in student affairs assessment. (Occasional Paper No. 52). Urbana, IL: University of Illinois and Indiana University, National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA).

Aaron, R. W. & Busby, A. K. (2016). Don’t fail to plan: Developing and assessing a student affairs strategic plan. Assessment Update 26(6), 1-2, 14-16.

Wise, V. L., & Aaron, R. W. (2015). Building talent and increasing assessment knowledge. In K. Yousey-Elsener, E. Bentrim, & G. Henning (Eds.), Coordinating student affairs divisional assessment: A practical guide. Stylus.

Buyarski, C. A., Aaron, R. W., Hansen, M. J., Hollingsworth, C. D., Johnson, C. A., Kahn, S., Landis, C. M., Pedersen, J. S., & Powell, A. A. (2015). Purpose and pedagogy: A conceptual model for an ePortfolio. Theory Into Practice 54(4), 283-291. doi:10.1080/00405841.2015.1076691