The Rev. Robert R. Fletcher has been elected president/CEO of the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation (UMHEF) by the board of trustees after receiving enthusiastic recommendations from the presidential search committee and the executive committee. Bishop Mike Watson of the North Georgia Conference will make this appointment effective in June 2011.
“Bob’s faith and commitment to the Church and higher education will serve UMHEF well,” stated Glenn C. Andrew, chair of the board of trustees. “During the past 30 years, he has developed specific skills and experiences, particularly in the areas of fundraising and development, which will enable him to provide the leadership and commitment required for UMHEF to realize its potential and achieve the goals set forth by the board. His passion and calling to serve UMHEF in this new capacity is a blessing to the Foundation. We are extremely fortunate to have a CEO with Bob’s gifts and heart for ministry!”
“The UMHEF’s ministry is of great importance to the future of The United Methodist Church. I have developed a deep passion for this mission over the past decade. Having served on the UMHEF board of trustees for the past 14 years, I have grown in my understanding and appreciation of the enormous impact our scholarships have on individual students, as well as the Church at large,” Fletcher said. “It is very important that we continue to grow and develop our programs for the benefit of our United Methodist institutions and students alike. I believe we can enhance our programs and grow our endowment by nurturing current relationships and creating new ones through partnerships with our friends and entities around the country.”
Fletcher has served as president/CEO of the Georgia United Methodist Foundation since 1991. He is responsible for implementing stewardship and development programs within the North and South Georgia Conferences of The United Methodist Church. From 1988 to 1991, he served as executive secretary to the General Board of Global Ministries (World Division) of The United Methodist Church where his duties included missionary personnel and programming in the Africa/Europe/Middle East region. Previously, he served in the local church pastorate from 1980 to 1988.
Fletcher holds a Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Tennessee in Martin.
The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation, located in Nashville, Tennessee, has as its primary mission the raising, managing, and disbursing of scholarship funds to assist United Methodist students attending the 121 United Methodist-related schools, colleges, universities, and seminaries.