Meet Bobby
Bobby Tugbiyele (pronounced 2-B-L-AY) has called Lowell home for half of his life. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a Bachelors in Political Science and History in the winter of 2004. Lowell is where Bobby met his wife, Aleksandra, and purchased their first home together. Together, they are raising their young sons, Samuel (8) and Ellis (6). The city is also home to Bobby’s self-owned and operated recruiting firm, The Leap Network, LLC.
Perseverance, courage, and empathy have defined Bobby since childhood. A first generation American whose parents emigrated from Nigeria in the early 1970s, Bobby represents the story of Lowell - a city that embraces newcomers and longtime Lowellians alike. He was born with clubfeet, a congenital birth defect that required many surgeries and marked his difference from his classmates. At an early age, his mother taught him that, “disability does not mean inability.” Despite life-long physical setbacks, these experiences formed Bobby’s optimism and commitment to improving the lives of those around him, especially those who are underserved and underrepresented.
Bobby is an approachable, proactive, curious, and innovative leader driven by a desire to solve problems for the betterment of the community. As a recruitment and human resources professional, Bobby believes that an organization’s greatest asset is its people. He believes that the relationship between the municipal system and its people are of utmost priority. To strengthen this relationship, Bobby approaches solutions through bottom-up, community-based advocacy.
Bobby’s list of contributions to Lowell runs long and spans two decades. Bobby currently serves as a Board Member for the Massachusetts Workforce Association, Advisory Board Member for EforAll Merrimack Valley, Corporator for Lowell General Hospital, and Advisory Board Member for University of Massachusetts Lowell College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (FAHSS). He is a former Trustee of the Merrimack Repertory Theatre and former President of the Center City Committee which advocated and spearheaded public-private collaborative projects for the betterment of the downtown area. In 2022, Bobby and his wife, Aleksandra, were honored by Community Teamwork Inc. for their community advocacy work. In 2018, the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce named Bobby the Young Professional of the Year. In 2012, he received a Graduate Certificate from Boston University in Nonprofit Management and Leadership.
In addition to Bobby's professional experience, he has remained a proactive participant in local issues. From pushing for resident participation and transparency in the selection of the Lowell Superintendent of Police, to advocating for the Lowell City Council to declare racism a public health crisis, to rallying for the support of small businesses, and more, Bobby has been a steadfast advocate and community servant in hopes of making Lowell a better place for all.