Dr. Robert G. Sherman, PhD.
Dr. Robert G. Sherman is a distinguished economist, finance expert, and academic leader with extensive experience spanning government service, higher education, international development, and global business. His career reflects a strong commitment to advancing financial systems, economic policy, and institutional development in both the United States and Africa.
He holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration (Finance) from Arizona State University, with minors in Economics and Global Business. He also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Arizona State University, a Master of International Management (MIM) from Thunderbird School of Global Management (formerly the American Graduate School of International Management) in Glendale, Arizona, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Cuttington College in Liberia.
Dr. Sherman previously served as Assistant Minister of Finance for Banking in the Republic of Liberia, where he played a key role in shaping financial sector policy and strengthening banking systems. He later served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the AMI Group Inc. in Phoenix, Arizona, where he led initiatives focused on international business development and economic engagement.
In academia, Dr. Sherman is Professor Emeritus of Finance, Economics, and Global Business at the University of Phoenix, where he taught MBA and doctoral-level courses and contributed to the development and revision of undergraduate and graduate business curricula. He also taught International Finance, Economics, and Global Business at Thunderbird School of Global Management for nearly a decade. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, teaching graduate-level finance and economics courses.
Dr. Sherman has made significant contributions to international development and policy engagement. He served as a Visiting Scholar to the African Development Bank in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank. He has also consulted for the Africa Bureau of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in New York on private sector development initiatives across Africa.
Through his leadership at AMI Group, Dr. Sherman organized major international conferences and expos on Africa in Phoenix, bringing together global institutions such as the African Development Bank, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and various U.S. government agencies, including the Departments of Commerce, State, Energy, and Treasury, as well as USAID, EX-IM Bank, OPIC, SBA, and the Corporate Council on Africa.
Dr. Sherman is a founding member and first president of several prominent organizations, including the African Finance & Economics Association of North America (AFEA), the African Association of Arizona (AFASA), and the Liberian Association of Arizona (LAA). He also serves as President Emeritus of both the Liberian and African Associations of Arizona. In addition, he is the founder of the Council of Liberian Experts in the Diaspora (COLED), an organization dedicated to mobilizing diaspora expertise for Liberia’s national development.
His scholarly contributions include publications in peer-reviewed academic journals, reflecting his expertise in finance, economics, and global business. Beyond academia and professional leadership, he is actively engaged in community service, including supporting the resettlement of African refugees in Phoenix.
Dr. Sherman currently serves on several boards and commissions and has received numerous academic and community honors. His awards include the 2014 Martin Luther King Jr. “Living the Dream” Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from U.S. President Joe Biden in 2023, recognizing his enduring contributions to leadership, service, and community development.
Dr. Sherman is widely respected for his global perspective, academic excellence, and lifelong commitment to advancing economic development, education, and public service. He is married and has two children.
