Rob Izzo

Rob Izzo, Ph.D. is a community-based nonprofit leader, educator, and advocate working at the intersections of youth development, social justice, and environmental restoration. As CEO of Circuit Rider Community Services, Rob leads programs that empower at-risk and system-impacted youth through mentorship, education, and hands-on ecological projects that strengthen skills, confidence, and community connection.

Before leading Circuit Rider, Rob was the executive for a wine company, where he advanced equity, sustainability, and social responsibility within the wine industry. His leadership focused on fair pay, housing equity, and improved working conditions for vineyard workers, along with efforts to promote organic and biodynamic farming practices.

A lifelong champion for equity, fairness, and opportunity, Rob’s work is grounded in a deep understanding of the systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities. He earned his Ph.D. in Education Leadership from the University of Virginia, where his research examined teachers’ perceptions of minority students through the lens of Critical Race Theory.

Rob brings to the Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights a commitment to advancing compassionate, evidence-informed solutions that uphold human dignity and strengthen community wellbeing. He lives in Petaluma with his husband and their two dogs.