Robert E. Proctor,
Attorney and Lansing Community College Board of Trustee
The words: “a person committed to serving his community” best describes Robert E. Proctor. Robert states that his parents and uncle instilled in him early in his life the notion that one has a responsibility to give back to her or his community. Robert has paid homage to that notion throughout his life. Since arriving in Lansing in 1974, to serve as counsel for the Labor Committee of the Michigan House of Representatives, Robert has been involved in many civic, social, and professional organizations, nearly all of which have as their primary mission service to others.
In November 2009, Robert was elected to a second six-year term on the Lansing Community College Board of Trustees. During his first term, Robert served four years as secretary/treasurer of the board, and he chaired the president search screening committee during a difficult time. Robert’s community activities are numerous and include serving in leadership positions in several organizations. Robert has been a volunteer with the Mid-Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross for more than 25 years, during which he has served as vice-chair and chair of the board of directors. Robert’s volunteer activities with the American Red Cross have extended beyond the Mid-Michigan Chapter. Robert has been a member of the State Service Council, Chair of the Michigan Red Cross Coordinating Council, member of and diversity consultant for the Great Lakes Service Area Resource Council, member of the National Fund Development Advisory Task Force, and vice chair of the 2004 American Red Cross national convention. Robert currently serves as a member of American Red Cross President’s National Leadership Council. Robert is treasurer and member of the board of directors of the Black Child and Family Institute and is on the board of directors of the Resolution Services Center of Central Michigan. He volunteers as a mediator for the Center and 54A District Court. Robert is a past president of Michigan State University Black Alumni and a former member of the board of directors of the MSU Alumni Club of Mid Michigan. Robert was a member of the board of directors of Lansing Fair Housing Center and was a fair housing tester. Robert has been a mentor with the Lansing School District since 1990.
Robert’s professional affiliations include membership in the Lansing Black Lawyers Association, of which he was president from 1996 to 1999. He is a member of the Michigan State Bar Association’s labor and employment law section; he served as a member of the section council for four years. Robert holds membership in the Detroit and Mid-Michigan chapters of the Labor and Employment Research Association. Robert has been a speaker or presenter for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Ingham County Bar Association, Oakland University, Industrial Relations Research Association of Mid-Michigan and the Association of Labor Relations Agencies.
Robert is a retired administrative law judge, but continues to practice law and serve as a mediator and labor arbitrator. He is a life member of the NAACP, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, University of California Alumni Association and Michigan State University Alumni Association. Robert earned a baccalaureate degree in political science from the University of California/Berkeley and a juris doctor degree from Detroit College of Law; he has substantial credits towards a master of laws degree in labor law from Wayne State University. Robert is a 2005 fellow of the Michigan Political Leadership Program.
Robert is the recipient of the Mid-Michigan ARC Chapter’s Richard D. Letts Award for Outstanding Diversity Leadership from and the Lillian Kumata Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service. Robert states that his greatest personal accomplishment comes with serving as a mentor to youth and his most rewarding professional endeavor is serving as a mediator and assisting others in resolving their disputes. Robert and his wife, Merritta, reside in Delta Township.
