Robert Lynch is the president and CEO of Americans for the Arts, the national organization dedicated to advancing the arts and arts education in people’s lives, schools, and communities. Previously, he was executive director of the National Assembly of Local Arts Agencies and managed the successful merger of that organization with the American Council for the Arts to form Americans for the Arts. He also managed the merger of the Arts and Business Council, Inc. into Americans for the Arts. Robert created the Americans for the Arts Action Fund and its connected political action committee to engage citizens in advocating for the arts and arts education policy. Robert currently serves on the board of the Craft Emergency Relief Fund, the Arts Extension Institute, and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst College of Humanities and Fine Arts Board. He is a member of the executive committee for United Voices for Education and is on the advisory council of the National Museum for Children in the Arts. Robert earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.