Dr. Robert A. Tankard

Hailing from Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts USA, Dr. Robert Tankard has spent the past fifty plus years of his life as a strong advocate for people, attempting to improve the quality of life for the underprivileged and disadvantaged. As an educator and administrator, Dr. Tankard has developed many programs that have improved the quality of education for both students and educators that have worked under his guidance. Dr. Tankard has directed several television programs pertaining to community issues as well as programs designed to give high school and college students a voice or forum to discuss issues that affect them. In the past two years he has been working as the Martha’s Vineyard Veterans Outreach Advocate providing veterans with their needs and other issues.

EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Dr. Tankard obtained his Doctoral Degree from the Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, CA, a Master’s Degree from Bridgewater State College in Bridgewater, MA, a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA, and a Certificate of Leadership from The Principals’ Center at Harvard Graduate School of Education in Cambridge, MA.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AREAS:

In addition to his formal education, as well as his past experience as a teacher and administrator, Dr. Tankard served as Chair of the Cape Cod Collaborative, a committee that oversees alternative education for students on Cape Cod and the Islands. He also serves as a trustee on the following committees: brokerage, trust, facilities, compliance/audit, and charitable foundation at the Martha’s Vineyard Bank located on Martha’s Vineyard. He served as the Chair of the Tisbury School Committee, Vice Chair of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Committee, and was a member of the Board of Directors at The New Covenant School in Arlington, Mass. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Martha’s Vineyard Community Television, as well as the host of his own program called “Tank Talk” He owned and operated his own Youth Camp for youth in New Hampshire called Upward Bound Youth Development. He currently works as the Martha’s Vineyard Veterans Outreach Advocate and is also one of the trustees and founders of the Martha’s Vineyard Diversity Coalition.

AWARDS RECEIVED:

Martha’s Vineyard North Star Achievement Award – Educator of the Year
Martha’s Vineyard Community Hero Award
Extraordinary People of Martha’s Vineyard Award
Recognition Award – Cape Cod Affirmative Action Board
African-American Heritage Trail of Martha’s Vineyard Award
Recognized for Honored Leadership for the Cape Cod Times