2014 Schranz Lecturer 

Robert Hoopes grew up in Wilmington, Delaware. He earned a bachelor’s degree in government from Colby College and a master’s degree in legislative affairs from The George Washington University. He also has an honorary master’s degree from Colby College.

Robert Hoopes is the president of VOX Global, one of the world’s largest communication firms. Over the past five years, Hoopes has directed the company into consecutive years of growth. The team grew from 12 people in 2007 to more than 50 people in 2011, with offices in several cities around the nation.

Hoopes has been active in politics for more than 30 years, starting in 1987 with then-Senator Joe Biden’s first run for President. Hoopes joined his Senate office two years later. He volunteered for the Obama/Biden 2008 presidential campaign and helped with the Biden VP Transition Team.

Hoopes has worked at every Democratic Convention since 1992. He joined the Independent Insurance Agents of America as the political director, overseeing campaign and election activities around the country. He later directed grassroots, media and political outreach in support of the 1996 Telecommunications Act.

Hoopes provides regular political commentary for Fox News, NPR, MSNBC and BBC World News. He also contributes to The Huffington Post. Since 1999, he has been an adjunct professor at The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management, where he taught a course about managing government relations. Hoopes now serves on the Council of American Politics at The George Washington University and is on the Board of Trustees at Colby College.