Strand earned a PhD from Copenhagen Business School focused on Corporate Social Responsibility, an MBA from the University of Minnesota, and a BS in industrial engineering from the University of Wisconsin. In recent years, he developed campus and study-abroad sustainability programs for undergraduates, MBAs, PhDs, professors, and executives. While a U.S. Fulbright Scholar in Norway, he explored sustainability and CSR across Scandinavia.  

Robert's teaching and research focuses on the strategic impacts of social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability, comparing global approaches to CSR and sustainability with particular focus on the U.S. and Scandanavia, and the theory of the firm topics that include the ethics of cooperation.

Prior to his work in academia, Strand spent a decade in industry with IBM and Boston Scientific. Strand believes Haas is uniquely positioned to bring sustainable and responsible business into the mainstream.