Robert R. Penn T'74

Robert Penn is president of three privately held independent oil and gas production companies: Penn Resources, Inc., Penn Brothers, Inc. and Rock Island Resource Company, Inc.  The three companies hold interests in over 4500 properties in 13 states.  Mr. Penn has been involved with the companies since 1983; he previously worked in commercial bank lending. 

Mr. Penn most recently served as Chair of the Ronald McDonald House Board during the construction of a new facility to double its capacity.  He also serves on the Texas State Bar Disciplinary Panel. 

A Duke alumnus with a bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies in 1974, Mr. Penn also holds an M.A. from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.  He lived in Bogota, Colombia from 1976-1977 as a Fulbright Scholar.  Mr. Penn's volunteer commitment to Duke includes service on the Annual Fund Committee and the Annual Fund Executive Committee, which he chaired in 2009-2010.  He now serves as National Co-Chair of the Braxton Craven Fellows and the James B. Duke Society.  He has also been a member of the Trinity Board of Visitors and TIP Advisory Board. Mr. Penn and his wife, Katherine Baker Penn T'74, have three daughters: Sarah T'05, Caroline T'11, and Julia. 

Mr. Penn joined the Duke University Board of Trustees in 2011 and serves on the Human Resources Committee and the Undergraduate Education Committee.

July 2012