A member of the class of ’64, Robert Anker graduated from Lawrence with a degree in mathematics. He used this degree to achieve considerable success in the insurance industry, becoming president and chief operating officer at Lincoln National Corporation and chairman and chief executive officer at American States Financial Corporation.
He and his wife Pat, who have been married for over 40 years, reside in Carmel, Ind. and Santa Fe, N.M.
Giving back to Lawrence was a logical step for this member of the board of trustees, who has been on the board since 2004. “When I got out of high school, Lawrence gave me the quality of education that allowed me and my wife to do many of the things that we wanted to do,” he said. “Lawrence gave me a lot and it is only appropriate that I try to give back.
An architecture fan, Anker was excited to be involved with the planning of the new campus center and is looking forward to seeing how the new campus center fits in with the rest of the campus.
“It strikes me as a very wonderful piece of architecture that will have impact on campus,” he said. “With the location and the views, it has a presence of its own.”
Mr. Anker looks back fondly at his time at Lawrence. When asked about his favorite Lawrence memory, he said that there “are too many, most of which I can’t share.
Warch Center Donors Profile: Robert Anker
