Rick Roberts

Rick Roberts is the Director of The American Space, a joint endeavor of AUIB and the U. S. Department of State. The American Space at AUIB, the largest American cultural and information center in the region, provides free and open access for members of local communities to learn more about the United States, develop skills, and access a wide range of resources. Under his guidance, The American Space has produced a dynamic range of programs that explore real-world topics, celebrate diversity, and encourage creativity and open-mindedness. He is responsible for creating the Digital Hub at The American Space, a state-of-the-art technological incubator for research and creative ideas.

Before joining AUIB, Dr. Roberts, a retired Senior Foreign Service Officer, enjoyed a nearly 30-year career with the U. S. Department of State, including 13 overseas assignments in the Near East, Africa, and Europe; a one-year fellowship on Capitol Hill as a Senate aide, Deputy Director of the Office of Press and Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and Diplomat in Residence at the University of Oklahoma. He has taught at the University of Kansas, Weber State University, the University of Maryland Overseas, and the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Roberts holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Psychology summa cum laude from the University of Mississippi and an M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. in Anthropology with Honors from the University of Kansas.