As a vice president at T. Rowe Price in downtown Baltimore, Rob Sharps understands long-term investing. The CBE alumnus also applies this concept to how he approaches his career and community
service.

Sharps credits his father, a stockbroker, for his initial interest in business and investments. For his undergraduate major, he chose accounting. “The degree has versatility,” he says. “It provides a solid
foundation and is a good platform for a business career. There are a lot of different routes you can go.”

At TU, Sharps was a charter member of the honorary accounting fraternity, Beta Alpha Psi, and president of the student chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants. As an undergraduate, he actively planned for his future, which included earning an MBA. After graduating and spending two years in the
work force, he enrolled in the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and earned his MBA in finance. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst and a Certified Public Accountant.

	Rob Sharps at the T. Rowe Price office in downtown Baltimore.

After receiving his graduate degree, Sharps joined T. Rowe Price as an analyst in 1997. The individuals and the teamwork and congeniality they displayed appealed to him. On a deeper level, he appreciated the company’s longer-term approach because it suited his philosophy of having a longterm perspective. “T. Rowe was a fit for me, and I saw it as a place where I could spend my career,” he says.

As he gained experience, he identified an opportunity for the company: managing large cap portfolios for institutions. T. Rowe provided a $2 million seed to start the fund and on Halloween 2001, it launched
with Sharps as manager. Nearly nine years later, Sharps handles around $18 billion for more than 60 U.S. and international clients. Rapid growth has prompted him to add an associate portfolio manager and associate analyst.

Despite a high level of professional responsibilities, Sharps still makes time to give back to the community. In addition to his father’s influence, his
mother’s career as a teacher has clearly affected him as well. Sharps values the benefits and importance of a solid education and provides extraordinary
support to TU and the College of Business and Economics. He has been invested in the college for more than 20 years, first as an excellent student, then as an active alumnus, generous donor and a leader on the Accounting Department Advisory Board
and the CBE Advisory Board.

Sharps joined the Accounting Advisory Board in 2000. Accounting Department Chair Manash Ray lauds Sharps’ support, noting that "Rob has been an active board member and has been generous with his time. He’s a big supporter of the program and shares our vision of gaining national prominence and recognition.”

Sharps and his wife, Pamela, MKTG ’92, donated $5,000 to the department in 2010 for faculty development; T. Rowe Price matched their gift. Sharps also lends his expertise and insights to the CBE
Advisory Board, working with Stephanie Beran ’80 on the Nominating Committee. “Rob brings the perspective of a finance and business professional, as well as a large employer of TU students, to
the board,” says Beran, who is managing director of Enterprise Risk Management for Legg Mason & Co., LLC, and has known Sharps since 1992. “TU has been the beneficiary of Rob’s leadership skills for more than two decades.”

His investment in education also extends beyond Towson University. Sharps and his wife served as co-chairs for the 2010 Annual Fund at St. Paul’s School in Brooklandville, Md., where their sons are enrolled.

Rob Sharps credits his success to a straightforward approach. “There’s no secret sauce,” he says. “Work hard, have confidence in your abilities and have a long-term perspective.” By applying this method to his philanthropic pursuits, he has provided TU students and faculty with much-needed opportunities and resources.