Robert Shephard joined the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in 2024 as Director of Environmental Health and Safety. With over 22 years of experience, he is focused on sustainable growth, performance optimization, and aligning safety, quality, and operations.
Shephard is a Certified Welding Inspector with a technical background from Alamance Community College. He previously held Welding Supervisor certification and served on Welding Advisory Committees for Alamance and Guilford Technical Community Colleges, supporting curriculum development and workforce readiness.
Starting as a registered welding apprentice in high school, Shephard gained hands-on experience that shaped his career. He has worked with Environmental Air Systems Inc. (EAS) and partnered with the North Carolina Department of Labor, Orano, U.S. Metal Crafters, and Carolina Core Machine to build strong EHS programs and promote safety culture.
He holds OSHA 30 and HAZWOPER certifications and believes a strong safety culture is key to organizational success and employee well-being.
