Biography

Robert J. Van Der Velde retired in June 2023 as Senior Dean of Arts & Sciences at Napa Valley College in Napa, California. Previously, he was Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, FL and was President-elect of the Association of Florida Colleges. He was a tenured Professor of Law at the College of Technology Studies of Eastern Michigan University from 2003 to 2008, and previously was a faculty member at Auburn University Montgomery from 1995-2003. He holds a B.A. from The Ohio State University, an M.S. in Urban Studies from Cleveland State University, and earned his J.D. degree cum laude from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1985. He is admitted to practice law in Ohio, the District of Columbia, the United States Supreme Court, and on a pro hac vice basis in state and federal courts in 23 states, and has argued appeals in five Circuits of the United States Courts of Appeals. He served on the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE) Board of Directors representing the Southeast Region. He is a member of the Approval Commission of the Standing Committee on Paralegals of the American Bar Association, served as President of the Mentor (Ohio) Public Library Board of Trustees, and is a member of many professional associations.  He serves on the Board of Directors of Leadership Napa Valley, and is co-chair of the Voters Choice Napa committee of the Community Leaders Coalition.

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