Marguerite Barland ’60 Merit Award
Congratulations to our 2023 recipient, Robert L. Bull, Jr. ’93
Since 2015, the Marguerite Barland ’60 Merit Award has been presented annually in
honor and celebration of our first African American graduate, Marguerite Barland. This annual award celebrates one or more alumnae/i who in her or his professional
and private life has significantly contributed to the diversity of our campus community
through leadership—as a mentor, role model, volunteer, or philanthropic supporter
of the college. Throughout their life, this individual will have exemplified Goucher’s
Community Principles—respect, inclusion, communication, service and social justice,
and responsibility—and by doing so, they will have enhanced and inspired our community.
2023 Marguerite Barland '60 Merit Award Recipient
Goucher College College is proud to honor Robert L. Bull Jr., Class of 1993, with
the 2023 Marguerite Barland ’60 Merit Award. The president of The Compass Group, a
fundraising consulting firm, Robert has spent decades devoting his time and resources
to the causes he believes in, helping organizations with missions both global and
local, and demonstrating to others the importance of leadership and philanthropy.
Robert was a member of one of the first classes at Goucher to accept men as students, and he continued to be a pioneer after graduation. In 2002, he joined the AAGC, and in 2007, Robert became president of the alumni board. He was the first African American and the first man to hold this position. He also became a member of the Goucher College Board of Trustees in 2007, a position he held for four years and took on again in 2017.
Robert is proof of the power of volunteering. Formerly chair of the Greater Goucher Fund, today he is chair of the college’s [UNDAUNTED] campaign, which has raised more than $83 million of its $100 million goal so far.
He has also helped transform the Jewell Robinson Dinner, which began as a recognition
event celebrating
the achievements of Goucher’s Black alumnae/i. Now, thanks to Robert’s efforts the
dinner also serves as a
fundraising event for the Imani Fund, which provides financial support for study abroad
experiences for
students in the Maryland Scholars Program.
The results of Robert’s work are boundless. As a fundraising consultant, he has helped
raise over $1 billion
in philanthropic gifts across the sectors of conservation, education, health care,
and the arts. A champion
for Black cultural sites and museums, he has raised the profile of hundreds of small
organizations, making
his company the go-to fundraising consulting firm for African American historic sites.
Robert has always
emphasized teaching and encouraging others, and a goal of his work is to inspire more
African American
fundraising professionals to take his lead.
The college has long recognized the important work done by Robert; in 1998, during
his fifth reunion,
he received the Jenifer Mitchell Reed ’86 Young Alumni Award, and he was awarded the
John Franklin
Goucher Medal at Commencement in 2019.
Goucher College is a stronger place with alumni like Robert, and a stronger place
because of Robert. It is
with great esteem for his convictions and values, his generosity of spirit, and his
inspiring leadership that
we are proud to recognize Robert L. Bull Jr. ’93 with the 2023 Marguerite Barland
’60 Merit Award.