Author

Robert Anacletus Underwood graduated from Guam’s John F. Kennedy High School in 1965 and went on to earn a B.A. and M.A in history from California State University Los Angeles in 1969 and 1971, respectively. Underwood holds a doctor of education degree from the University of Southern California.

In April 2008, Underwood was selected to lead the University of Guam as its president. He is a former member of the U.S. Congress, retired academic vice president from the University of Guam and a distinguished educator, widely acknowledged as a leading authority on cultural, educational and linguistic issues in Guam and Micronesia.

Underwood served as the congressional delegate from Guam in the 103rd through 107th Congresses from 1993 to 2003 during which he sponsored major legislation for Guam, played an active role in Department of Defense authorization bills and was an advocate for political development for insular areas and the extension of educational and social opportunities for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. During his tenure in Congress, he became a senior member of both the House Armed Services and Resources Committees. He emphasized the importance of Guam and the Asian Pacific region in national strategic policy and worked to enhance the benefits of military personnel, especially those in guard and reserve units.

He passed major legislation for Guam that resolved long standing land disputes with the federal government, brought recognition to Guam’s World War II generation and their case for war claims and enhanced local autonomy. Additionally, he built a successful record of bringing in federal funds for military construction, assistance to the government of Guam due to in-migration from surrounding islands and for several education programs.

Underwood ensured Guam’s inclusion in major legislation such as the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that brought domestic telephone rates to Pacific territories, the State Children Health Insurance Program and the bill that established the Department of Homeland Security. He brought recognition to Guam’s unique people by lifting the ban on betel nut (pugua) importation into the U.S. Customs Zone, inclusion in the National World War II Memorial, the creation of Chamorro Standard Time and participation in national commemorative events.

As a member of the Hispanic and Asian Pacific American Caucuses, he spoke out for the protection of immigrant rights, educational opportunities and sensitivity to language issues. As chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in the 106th Congress, he led the effort to include Asian Pacific Americans in scholarship programs, was instrumental in the development of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, spoke out against racial profiling and for including Pacific Islanders as a demographic category in federal programs.

Underwood is professor emeritus at the University of Guam and has taught courses in culture, education, bilingual education, administration and Chamorro. While at the university, he led the effort to include the Chamorro language and culture in Guam’s school curriculum. He was appointed to the National Advisory Council on Bilingual Education during President Carter’s administration and while at the University of Guam, he ran a multi-million regional education center for the Micronesian region, served as dean of the College of Education and as academic vice president. He also served as chairman of the Chamorro Language Commission for over a decade.

In more recent years, Underwood has participated in the effort to create the national Asian Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund and was elected to be the APIASF’s first chair of the board of trustees. He has also worked on several research projects with the East West Center and the Asian Pacific Center for Security Studies.

In recognition of his efforts in building good relations in the Pacific, he received a Presidential Merit Award from President Gloria Arroyo of the Philippines and congratulatory resolutions from the Pohnpei, FSM and Northern Marianas legislatures. He was also named Citizen of the Year by the National Association of Bilingual Education in 1996, Alumnus of the Year by California State University Los Angeles and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Guam Humanities Council.