Meet a Colleague: Rob Straughan Rob Straughan is the Crawford Family Dean of the Williams School of Commerce.

W&L News Office
September 2, 2026

Q. How long have you worked at W&L?
Since July 2000, so this is my 27th year.

Q. What is your favorite course to teach, and why? 
For many years, Elizabeth Oliver and I taught spring courses on corporate responsibility, splitting time between campus and Copenhagen, Denmark. I’ve spent so much time in Copenhagen with so many amazing students and met so many interesting professionals over there, that I consider it my home away from home.

Q. Where did you grow up?
The western suburbs of Houston, Texas. I’m a proud Westchester Wildcat!

Q. What was your favorite subject in school?
I liked so many of my classes, but my favorite was Jazz Ensemble. We had a terrific high school jazz program and Noe Marmolejo, our director, modeled what passion for teaching looked like.

Q. Name one person from history you would like to spend a day with and why.
I would like more time with my dad. He died fairly young, just as my adult life was beginning to take shape. The dream would be time with him over a Labor Day weekend dove hunting with other family members in Hamilton, Texas.

Q. Who is the most famous person you have met and where did you meet them?
Getting to meet Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg during lunch at Lee House a few years ago stands out. Fun fact: During lunch, a news story broke about the Neil Gorsuch confirmation process. Justice Ginsburg used my phone to read that story. That phone no longer works, but I saved it as a keepsake.

Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Super long email distribution lists that don’t use the bcc field and the people who then reply all.

Q. What do you like to do away from work?
My wife and I enjoy (bad) golf and time at Smith Mountain Lake.

Q. What is your favorite family holiday tradition?
We host a big Christmas Eve open house that we look forward to each year. As our kids and their friends have grown up and moved away, it’s especially fun to see them each Christmas Eve.

Q. What is your all-time favorite food or food dish?
My wife is amazing, as is her culinary talent, so I’m blessed with many great meals. Still, it’s hard to beat a good steak — ribeye, medium rare please — fresh corn on the cob and some grilled asparagus. Nothing fancy, but I’ll clean my plate.

Q. Where would you choose to build your dream home?
We love it here. If I thought about some place farther away, I think the area around Lake Tahoe is absolutely stunning.

Q. What is your all-time favorite book?
“A Tale of Two Cities.” I loved it in high school, and I’ve re-read it a time or two since. Honorable mention in no particular order: “The Grapes of Wrath,” “The Kite Runner,” “Pillars of the Earth” and “The Lord of the Rings.”

Q. If you could choose one series to binge-watch, what would it be?
“Breaking Bad” is my favorite series of all time, with “The Wire” a close second. Of those that I haven’t seen, so many people recommend “West Wing” that I might binge that.

Q. What is your all-time favorite movie?
“The Godfather.” If I happen to scroll past it, I’m out of commission for the next three hours.

Q. What song or artist could you play on repeat?
Turnpike Troubadours. That can present some challenges since my wife really doesn’t like country music.

Q. Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
I would love to learn to play the bagpipes almost as much as my wife prays that I never act on that dream.