by Wendel Sloan
Communication Services
“It is just the right thing to do and will make ENMU a moral leader in respecting and honoring the Zia Pueblo’s right to the Zia symbol.” – Robert Graham (about spearheading the effort to end ENMU's use of the Zia name and symbol)
Robert Graham’s recent promotion from coordinator to director of Alumni Affairs at Eastern New Mexico University was a popular decision.
“He is a great communicator, organizer and genuinely cares about Eastern New Mexico University. The Alumni Association Board of Directors is very pleased with Robert. ”
Born on April 11, 1985, in Charlotte, N.C., Robert, who has a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College and a master’s degree in English from ENMU, says, “My parents challenged me to realize my full potential from an early age. They are supportive, loving parents. “
Robert’s support of ENMU athletics comes naturally. In school he played football, basketball, ran cross country, pole-vaulted and ran the 400 and 800 meter races.
He also has fond memories of his father catching fish from the Atlantic Ocean, and seeing a baby shark with “neon green eyes.”
Randy Fowler, president of the ENMU Alumni Association, says it has been a privilege to work with Robert.
"Robert has increased the stability and structure of our organization. He is organized, responsible, effective and efficient in his role as director of the Alumni Association. With his limited staff, Robert has created a positive working relationship with board members, Foundation board members and the ENMU administration. He performs all his duties in a professional manner."
Mr. Fowler says one goal of the Alumni Association is to provide scholarships to deserving students.
"Due to the leadership from Robert and Terry Othick, our annual scholarship golf tournament has become very successful in the last few years."
Mr. Fowler says Robert has done an excellent job in reaching other goals, including: generating more unrestricted funds, educating future alumni on networking, developing a branding standard and cultivating alumni.
"Due to his hard work and personal integrity, Robert has gained the respect of all board members," says Mr. Fowler.
Robert, who competed on his college forensics team, admits he experienced racism growing up and as an adult.
“I grew up at 4926 Old Fox Trail in Davis Lake, a north Charlotte neighborhood. My family and I were the only people of color, specifically African-Americans, who lived on Old Fox Trail. I learned to be comfortable in environments where people did and did not look like me,” he said.
“A memorable encounter I had is when I lived in Ada, Oklahoma, in 2007. I was sitting at a local coffee shop with another individual who was Cherokee. At the time my hair was shoulder length, as was the individual with whom I was sitting. A truck with three passengers drove by and yelled ‘jungle boys’ to me and the guy with whom I was sitting.
“I am still evolving and maturing in how I understand the dynamics of racism.”
Melissa Sena, secretary for Alumni Affairs, is impressed with her boss.
“Robert will help you in any way possible, whether you are a student, an employee, an alum or a person in the community. He is very dedicated to his job and any project we are involved in.”
The former firefighter for the Chickasaw Nation in Ada, Okla., says he plans to be a good steward of the resources at his disposal to strengthen Alumni Affairs, and its members will continue being ENMU’s biggest supporters.
For someone who recently turned 30, Robert has impressive credentials.
He has or is serving leadership roles with the United Way, Rotary International, United Blood Services and the American Red Cross.
He has volunteered with the Portales Chamber of Commerce (volunteer of the month, August, 2014), Rotary International (board of directors), KENW-TV (auctioneer), United Way (community investment grant reviewer and volunteer), Council for Advancement and Support of Education (regional events volunteer), Roosevelt County Regional Spelling Bee (judge); ENMU Student Affairs (staff/faculty volunteer), New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home (volunteer service award recipient), Charlotte Mecklenburg Police (animal shelter volunteer), Theater Charlotte (sound technician), and many more.
Terry Othick, newly appointed member of the Board of Regents and chairman of the ENMU Alumni & Friends Scholarship Golf Tournament in Albuquerque, says, “Robert and his staff, as well as Noelle Bartl and her staff at the ENMU Foundation, have provided outstanding support to the tournament and have played a key role in its success. Since Robert’s arrival in Alumni Affairs he has become a key member of our tournament committee."
Mr. Othick says throughout the year Robert and his team assist in the collection and accounting of sponsorship and golf fees, promoting the event through media, and volunteering his time and his staff’s time before and during the tournament.
He notes Robert is always looking for opportunities to promote the tournament to new sponsors and golfers and has taken the initiative to become acquainted with sponsors.
“Robert’s organizational skills, attention to detail, commitment and follow-through have helped transform this tournament into a well-planned and executed annual event,” says Mr. Othick.
Robert, a former high school English teacher who has authored numerous publications, is also spearheading a movement for ENMU to stop using the Zia as the name and symbol for women’s athletic teams. The students and the Board of Regents are scheduled to vote on the issue in April. The Alumni Association, Professional Senate and Student Senate have already passed resolutions supporting Robert's initiative.
The resolutions are in support of a resolution by the National Congress of American Indians supporting the Zia Pueblo’s “reclamation of their cultural rights in the Zia Sun Symbol.”
According to Robert, there are no legal restrictions barring ENMU from using the symbol, but it is an ethical issue in not exploiting a small New Mexico tribe of less than 700 people that does not have the resources to legally battle entities that use its symbol.
“No one is pressuring Eastern to do this,” says Robert. “It is just the right thing to do and will make ENMU a moral leader in respecting and honoring the Zia Pueblo’s right to the Zia symbol.”
There is also a financial consideration for Eastern because the university cannot trademark or license materials with the symbol.
If Eastern discontinues using the Zia symbol, Eastern’s women’s teams will join the men in being called “Greyhounds.”
The Monday Memo contacted the Zia Pueblo for a response to ENMU's initiative. Travis Suazo, executive director of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, said, "We are happy to learn of the direction the ENMU Board of Regents is considering taking to address ENMU's use of the Zia symbol and name for women's athletics."
Mr. Suazo has also forwarded our request to the governor of the Zia Pueblo for an additional response.
Reflecting on his time in New Mexico, the North Carolina native says he has “cherished my time in the Land of Enchantment. Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Ruidoso, Roswell, Cimarron and Red River are places for which I have great affinity. I still need to visit Socorro, Alamogordo and Las Cruces.”
Robert is refreshingly frank and practical about his future.
“My future plans are to have the best possible personal wealth portfolio I can.”
