Rod Walton is a 1999 graduate of St. Michael's Academy of Bryan, Texas. Rod went on to attend and graduate from Baylor University of Waco, Texas, in 2005 and later the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University.
Rod is a dynamic leader and trailblazer in the education, tech, and public service sectors. Currently serving as both the Director of Outreach and the Director of the Learning Center at Hamlin Robinson School in Seattle, Washington, Rod is the first Black executive in the school's history. In these dual roles, he heads transformative programs and initiatives that support students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences, neurodiverse families, and educators across the state while also building innovative community partnerships and programs that advocate for equitable education opportunities in underserved communities.
Rod brings a distinguished background, consulting global law, tech, and telecom firms and financial institutions across the United States and Europe, including consulting with global government agencies such as the Department of Education, FBI, SEC, and EU. A veteran with many years of leadership experience, Rod's expertise in compliance, strategic program development, and organizational leadership has prepared him to excel in boardroom settings, where he continues to contribute to advancing meaningful change.
He is the board chair emeritus at Sitike Counseling Center (South San Francisco, CA) and has held notable board positions with the Department of Housing for San Mateo County California, Samaritan House California, and the Sierra Club California. Rod remains active in advocacy efforts as a member of People of Color in Independent Schools (POCISNW) and the Washington Poor People’s Campaign in Washington state.