Robert “Bo” Newsome

Director of Outreach and State Relations, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities

Robert “Bo” Newsome has been director of outreach and state relations at the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities since 1999.  He is responsible for helping NAICU members become more active in the public policy arena. He also serves as NAICU’s liaison with the National Association of Independent College and University State Executives and various national state organizations. Bo is a member of the leadership team that coordinates the lobbying and grassroots efforts of the Student Aid Alliance, a coalition of 76 higher education organizations united in their support of federal student aid. Newsome also helps coordinate the National Campus Voter Registration Project, a nonpartisan effort to register college students and employees for the elections of 2012.

Prior to NAICU, Newsome spent a decade as director of recruitment and senior guidance counselor at Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, D.C., where he led families through the college admissions and financial aid process. In addition, Newsome coached both varsity football and rugby.  As founder of Carroll’s rugby program, he was instrumental in cultivating interest in the sport at Washington Metropolitan area high schools.

A longtime political and community activist, Newsome was an elected member of the Prince Georges County Democratic Central Committee. Newsome later moved to Montgomery County (MD) and was appointed to the East County Citizens Advisory Board. Newsome is a past 1st Vice President of the African American Democratic Club of Montgomery County. Additionally, Newsome served on the boards of Leadership Montgomery, the Montgomery County Regional Council of the United Way as well as the America and China International Foundation.

Newsome earned his B.A. degree in political science from Columbia University, where he also played varsity football and rugby.  He earned his M.A. degree in higher education administration from George Washington University.