About 30 years after leaving Texas, Dr. Robert Rhodes has returned to his home state. The son of a preacher man in small-town West Texas, Rhodes grew up in a close-knit family.
“We have a 640-acre family ranch in the Texas panhandle outside the Palo Duro Canyons,” Rhodes said. “My grandfather and grandmother owned it and it has been part of the family for more than 60 years. I grew up spending summers and holidays there and I’m glad my kids get the chance to go to the place I went as a kid.”
Rhodes, 44, has no trace of a Texan accent. He sits and stands upright and professional throughout his full schedule, grown accustomed to business dress after 17 years of work in higher education, but still holds to his Texan roots.
“I grew up drinking iced tea and Dr Pepper more often than water,” he said. “I still drive a pickup truck, partially because we live on a dirt road, and I enjoy quail and dove hunting. I like the values people hold here and how they fit well with my upbringing. A lot of my draw with Texas is family, and I enjoy the culture.”
Rhodes, who began serving as ACU provost this summer, lived in Las Cruces, N.M. with his family for 17 years after he began working at New Mexico State University. The family is still adjusting to the move from New Mexico.
“We haven’t had a lawn in 10 years, and now my son has a big one to mow,” Rhodes said. “New Mexico was very diverse; almost 80 percent of K-12 students are Hispanic. And while the Churches of Christ’s presence is strong in Las Cruces, it’s not as strong as it is here.”
Rhodes said he’s glad to be closer to some of his family and favorite sports teams.
He took his family to the ACU football game in Cowboys Stadium last weekend, and then walked across the street to the Rangers game against the Seattle Mariners.
Rhodes grew up in Wichita Falls, about 140 miles northeast of Abilene. Rhodes’ family also lived in Lubbock, Tulia and Abernathy before moving from Texas to Colorado after his freshman year in high school. After attending college in Nebraska and Oklahoma, Rhodes worked overseas and in New Mexico until he came back to Texas this summer to begin his new job as provost.
The Rhodes’ bought their home from Drs. Mark and Laura Phillips this summer, in part so Robert’s father can continue to live with the family as he has done for several years. The elder Rhodes is teaching at African Christian College in Swaziland but will return to living in Texas in the summer.
“Mark had been in several meetings with him and emailed him that we were looking to sell our house and we had a garage apartment,” Laura Phillips said. “They looked at ours and other houses, came back the next day and made an offer. They liked the garage apartment because they wanted Robert’s dad to be able to live with him.”
At a young age, Rhodes wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps in ministry.
“Once I got older I started thinking about more options or careers of service that fit me better,” Rhodes said. “I decided in high school I would major in psychology. I learned about school psychology and liked it because you can serve children and young adults and provide psychological services in a school setting.”
Rhodes met his future wife, Elena, in youth group during high school. They went to York College for their freshman year in college and were married before they transferred to Oklahoma Christian University.
“It was a different time back then; there was married housing on campus,” Rhodes said. “We just celebrated our 25th anniversary this summer. For us it was a blessing to have so much of our lives and experiences together.”
After their wedding, Robert and Elena Rhodes taught English in Japan for a year before attending graduate school. They now have three children: Jessica, a sophomore at Pepperdine University; Joshua, a junior at Wylie High School; and Julia, a student at Wylie Junior High School.
After grad school, Robert helped create the school psychology program at New Mexico State University, unknowingly taking his first step in academics that would lead to the position of the chief academic officer at a private university in West Texas.
“I never saw myself as a provost,” he said. “I wanted to do something that helped others so I started teaching in school psychology to have an impact on the field. What I enjoyed about school psychology, which was the same thing I liked as department chair, dean and now provost, is helping others and moving the university forward in the greatest benefit. I trust that the Lord is preparing me for enjoying and making an impact in what I do, and I won’t anticipate the next step but instead let it unfold.”
Rhodes served as associate dean for students and programs at NMSU when he applied for the open position of provost at ACU.
While the family is still adjusting to his new role at ACU and their home just south of Abilene, Rhodes said the ACU community has made the culture change easier.
“Our family really enjoys being here,” Rhodes said. “It’s always tough leaving a place you’ve been a long time, but this is becoming more like home and we are blessed to be here.”
