At the end of the day, Robert Green cares most about serving.
Whether advising Bagley College of Engineering undergraduates, acting as president of the National Society of Professional Engineers, executing duties as a captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve, serving as elder at First Presbyterian Church or nurturing his weeks-old granddaughter Ella, Green's passion for service shows in everything he does.
He has been with the NSPE-which has more than 500 local chapters-for more than 25 years and the USNR almost as long.
Green came to Mississippi State more than 30 years ago to pursue a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, then a master's in mechanical engineering.
In his current role as engineering undergraduate coordinator, he said, "I try to give back to the students what the faculty gave me when I was a student: mentorships, education and assistance. The job I have is difficult at times because the rewards are just delayed. You see the impacts years later when they say, 'Thanks for helping me get here,'
"What you do at Mississippi State is just a stepping stone to get to where you want to be," he added.
Green met his wife Sara at Mississippi State, and his daughter Kathryn and son-in-law Will also graduated from the university.
"Over the years, I've seen significant growth in the student body and in research funding, particularly in engineering," he said. "Mississippi State is a nice place: a good family with good people. We've got the best students, the best faculty and lots of opportunities for everybody."
Green's active role with the Navy Reserve, in addition to his duties at Mississippi State, keeps him busy, he said.
"It's a challenge, but it's fun," Green said about his military service. "You get to meet and work with very good people. The university is very supportive."
In the community, Green is a member of the Starkville Area Chamber of Commerce's advisory board and co-chair of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership's Military Affairs Committee.
"We try to keep Starkville aware of the concerns of the veterans, particularly the concerns of retired veterans," he said. "I guess I'm always trying to give back."