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​​​​​Education

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1973, Ph.D., Physical Organic Chemistry, Howard University (Washington, DC)

- Received the Howard University Terminal Fellowship to complete research without having to

serve as a Teaching Assistant

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1971, M.S., Physical Organic Chemistry, Howard University (Washington, DC)

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1969, B.S., Chemistry, Saint Augustine’s College (now University) (Raleigh, NC)

- Received a NASA Fellowship from Howard University to pursue the PhD degree

 

1965, Graduated Salutatorian, Garner Consolidated High School (Garner, NC)

- Recieved Academic Scholarship from Saint Augustine's College to pursue a B.S. degree

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Professional Experience

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2013 – present: Principal, The Shepard Institute (TSI), LLC

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1990 – 2013:  Founding Executive Director/CEO, Science and Engineering Alliance, Inc. (Known as SEA)

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1988 – 1990:  Technical Assistant to Director, Office of Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

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1984 – 1988:  Visiting Scientist, Department of Chemistry, Howard University

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1982 – 1988:  Science Consultant to African Organizations, United Nations Development Program

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1980 – 1984:  Lead Scientist, Safeguards Program, Office of Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

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1975 – 1980:  Senior Scientist, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards,U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

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1973 – 1975:  Head, X-ray Diffraction and Atomic Absorption Laboratory, Celanese Corporation

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1971 – 1972:  Research Assistant, Analytical Chemistry Division, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

 

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Professional Service

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2023: Virtual Presenter, Building Defense Research Capacity at HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs and ANNHSIs: Town Hall on Facilitating True Partnerships, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), Albuquerque, NM

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2022 – Present:  Member, Council of Advisors to the President of Saint Augustine's University, Raleigh, NC

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2022: Virtual Mentor, Of two young Black scholar-athletes as part of School of Business' Micro-Internship Program, Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU), Shawnee, OK

 

2021: Virtual Presenter, Historical Black Colleges and Universities: Myths & Misunderstandings - A 2-part presentation presented to community members wanting to know more about the history of HBCUs, Senior Center, Rockville, MD

 

2020: Facilitator, Of A Virtual Workshop Using National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Data as a Means for HBCU Faculty and Students to Engage in the NEON Research Program, National Science Foundation (NSF)

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2016: TEDx Talk, What Made the Difference, Inspiration for those reeling from setbacks, Howard University

 

2012 – 2020:  External Advisory Board Member, Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, a National Science

Foundation (NSF) Center of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST), Prairie View A&M University

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2009 – 2012:  Advisory Board Member, Center for STEM Education and Research (CSER), Texas Southern University

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2008 – 2012:  Planning Committee, Nuclear Education Program, Alabama A&M University

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2004 – 2010:  Member, Leadership Network Blue Ribbon Workforce Panel, Building Engineering and Science Talent (BEST)

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2004 – 2009:  Advisory Board Member, University Research Center, Texas Southern University

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2004 – 2006:  Distinguished Lecturer, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society

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2001 – 2005:  External Advisory Committee Board Member, Mississippi Functional Genomics Network, University of Southern Mississippi

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2000 – 2005:  Advisory Board Member, President’s Strategic Planning Committee for 10-Year Vision for Jackson State University

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2000 – 2004:  Advisory Board Member, Environmental Technology and Waste Management Consortium, Howard University (Chair, 2004)

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1999 – 2007:  External Advisory Board Member, Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI), Jackson State University

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1995 – 1998:  Member, Board of Directors, National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE)

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Published Works

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1. Shepard, R.L. (1975). A Design to Minimize Exposure to Scattered X-ray Radiation, X-Ray Spectrometry, Vol. 4, Issue 4, p. 202-204

2. B.D. Boss, R.N. Hazlett, and R.L. Shepard. (1973). Analysis of n-Paraffin Oxidation Products in the Presence of Hydroperoxides, J. of Anal Chem, Vol. 45, Issue 14, p. 2388-2392

3. Shepard, Robert L. (1989). The Amaranth Project Researchers Studying Potential Food Source, New Directions: Vol. 16, Issue 1, Article 7, p. 22-27

4. Shepard, Robert L. (1990). Chemical Studies of Grain Amaranth & Celosia Spec., USAID Final Report to Research & University Relations (RUR), Output/Benefits Report, Project #145, p. 40-44. 

5. Ayorinde, F.O., Osman, G., Shepard, R.L. et al. (1988). Synthesis of azelaic acid and suberic acid from Vernonia galamensis oil, J Am Oil Chem Soc 65, p. 1774–1777

6. Ayorinde, F.O., Clifton, J., Afolabi, O.A., Shepard, R.L. (1988). Rapid transesterification and mass spectrometric approach to seed oil analysis. J Am Oil Chem Soc 65, p. 942–947

7. Ayorinde, F.O., Ologunde, M.O., Nana, E.Y., Robert L. Shepard et al. (1989). Determination of fatty acid composition of amaranthus species, J Am Oil Chem Soc 66, p. 1812–1814

8. Ayorinde, F.O., Powers, F.T., Streete, L.D., Shepard, R.L. et al. (1989). Synthesis of dodecanedioic acid fromvernonia galamensis oil. J Am Oil Chem Soc 66, p. 690–692

9. Ologunde, M.O., Ayorinde, F.O. & Shepard, R.L. (1990). Chemical evaluation of defattedvernonia galamensis meal. J Am Oil Chem Soc 67, p. 92–95

10. M.O Ologunde, R. L. Shepard, O. L. Oke. (1991) Bioavailability to rats of iron from fortified grain amaranth flour, International J of Food Sci and Tech, Vol. 26, Issue 5, p. 493-500

11. M. O. Ologunde, F. O. Ayorinde, R. L. Shepard, O. A. Afolabi, O. L. Oke. (1992). Sterols of seed oils of Vernonia galamensis, Amaranthus cruentus, Amaranthus caudatus, Amaranthus hybridus and Amaranthus hypochondriacus grown in the humid tropics, J of Sci of Food and Agri, Vol. 58, Issue 2, p. 221-225

12. M. O. Ologunde, A. O. Akinyemiju, S. R. A. Adewusi, O. A. Afolabi, R. L. Shepard, O. L. Oke. (1992). Chemical evaluation of exotic grain amaranth seed planted in the humid lowlands of West Africa, J Tropical Agri, Vol. 69, No. 2, ref. 18, p. 106-110

13. Shepard, R.L. (1993). The Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Tomorrow's World, NOBCChE News, Vol. 14, Issue 2, p. 8

14. Ologunde, M.O., Morris, J.B., Shepard, R.L. et al. (1994). Bioavailability to rats of iron from fortified grain amaranth. Plant Food Hum Nutr 45, p. 191–201

15. Shepard, Robert L. (2009). Science and Engineering Alliance (SEA), Bulletin of Ecological Soc of America, Vol. 90, Issue 1, p. 8-10

16. Shepard, R.L., Bowie, Don. (2009). Workshop: Mechanics of Research Grant Proposal Development for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), NSF Award # 0935384, Directorate for Biological Sciences, Emerging Frontiers, Atlanta, GA

17. Shepard, Robert L. (2012). Science and Engineering Alliance, Inc. (SEA) Activities to Increase Participation of Students from Underrepresented Groups in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Programs, OSTI ID: 1068695, U.S. Dept of Energy

18. Mourad, Teresa M., Shepard, R.L. (2012). Developing Research and Teaching Capacity in the Ecological Sciences at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), NSF Award # 1240678, Directorate for Biological Sciences, Emerging Frontiers

19. Shepard, Robert L. (2006). A Planning Grant for Development of a Comprehensive Proposal Describing Science and Engineering Alliance (SEA) Engagement in the NSF NEON Project, NSF Award # 0630524, Directorate for Biological Sciences, Emerging Frontiers

20. Shepard, R.L. and Johnson, D. (2007). The First Wave of NEON Founding Members, BioScience, Vol. 57, Issue 7, p. 636

21. Shepard, R.L. and Johnson, D. (2007). NEON Partners with the Science and Engineering Alliance, BioScience, Vol. 57, Issue 7, p. 635-636

22. Mohamed, A., Shepard, R. L. (1997). High School Teacher Enhancement, OSTI ID: 587719, U.S. Dept of Energy

23. Perkins, James J., Shepard, Robert L., Bork, Alfred M. (1992). Minorities in Science Series, NSF Award # 9154130. Directorate for STEM Education, Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL)

24. Shepard, Robert L. (1973). Negative and Positive Ion Mass Spectrometry of Some Substituted Diimides, Ph.D. Thesis, Howard University

25. Shepard, R. L. "Can African Americans Remain Sheltered in Place." Op-Ed Opinion. The Washington Informer, June 10, 2020

26. Shepard, R. L. "Shelter-in-Place Economic Reduction." Op-Ed Opinion. The Washington Informer, June 24, 2020

27. Shepard, R. L. "SEA Five-Year Strategic Plan: 2009 - 2013." Science and Engineering Alliance, Inc. (SEA), July 15, 2009

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Books/Monographs

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1. Fulfilling MY Destiny, Step by Step – An Autobiography - (Published by AuthorHouse®, 2013; The Shepard Institute, 2016)

2. Fulfilling YOUR. Destiny, Step by Step – A Self-Help Guide - (Published by The Shepard Institute, 2017)

3. Food Science Lecture Note Series IV - International Food Policy. (2005). Monograph, Editors-in-Chief: Adeyemi, I. A., Ologunde, M. O., and Shepard, R. L., (Publisher: Scoripo Educational Achievement Services (SEAS) Publishers, Lagos, Abuja, ISBN: 978-9784829823)

4. Food Science Lecture Note Series V: Toxic Constituents of Food. (2005). Monograph, Editor-in-Chief: Adeyemi, I. A., Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Ologunde, M. O., and Associate Editor: Shepard, R. L., (Publisher: Scoripo Educational Achievement Services (SEAS) Publishers, Lagos, Abuja, ISBN: 978-9784829809)

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Recognition/Awards/Honors

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• Mural of Shepard, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Building, Rockville, Maryland (2022)

• Featured on the African American Historical Website, Blackpast.org (2018)

• TEDx Talk: What Made the Difference, Inspiration for those reeling from setbacks, Howard University TEDx Series (2016)

• Distinguished Alumni & Citation, Garner Consolidated High School Alumni (2015)

• Dedicated Service to LLNL, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), (1994-2013)

• Outstanding Alumni, United Negro College Fund (UNCF) (2013)

• William Jefferson Jackson Distinguished Alumni, Saint Augustine's University (2012)

• Emerald Honors Educational Leadership Award, Science Spectrum, page 28 (2006)

• Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer (2005-2006)

• Founding Board Member, Building Engineering and Science Talent (BEST) (2001)

•  21st Century Trailblazer Award, Jackson, Mississippi City Council (1998)

• Distinguished PhD Alumni, Howard University (1998)

• Distinguished Alumni, Saint Augustine's University (1996)​

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Volunteer Services provided to various individuals and organizations through Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Rockville, MD and Saint Augustine’s University, Raleigh, NC

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