Dr. Robins retired in June 2022 after 10 years as President of Peninsula College (WA). With over four decades in student-centered community college teaching and administration, Dr. Robins’ career has focused on service to small/rural community colleges and their students in Illinois, Kentucky, Wyoming, Texas, Idaho, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Washington. A first-generation college graduate, he is an unabashed cheerleader for the transformative power of community colleges for the students and rural communities they serve.

Under Dr. Robins’ leadership, Peninsula College was an early adopter of Guided Pathways principles and maintained robust programs for international students and dual enrollment for high school students. During his tenure, the college completed three major construction projects and expanded programs in nursing and childcare. Peninsula College was in the vanguard of developing and delivering Applied Baccalaureate degrees in the state of Washington. The college also serves 6 sovereign native nations and is the home of ʔaʔkʷustəŋáw̕txʷ House of Learning, Peninsula College Longhouse, the first such longhouse built on a community college campus in the United States. At the state level, he provided advocacy and leadership as the Washington Community and Technical College System adopted and transitioned to a statewide ERP system.

Prior to assuming the presidency at Peninsula College, Dr. Robins served as the second Chancellor of Louisiana Delta Community College. Dr. Robins led the college through candidacy to full initial accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and provided leadership for the construction of Delta’s permanent campus home. During this period, the college was among the top 10 fastest growing colleges in the nation. His steady leadership was especially important as the college began the process of merging with regional campuses of the Louisiana Technical College region to provide comprehensive community/technical college offerings to Northeast Louisiana. He has also served as Dean of Instruction and Vice President of Instruction at colleges in Idaho and Arkansas. He has taught classes at the community college in English composition, American literature, and interpersonal communication, and community college history/leadership at the graduate level.

Dr. Robins’ doctoral dissertation focused on organizational culture and change, and he maintains a keen interest in helping college communities build resilient and student focused cultures. He has extensive experience in small/rural college opportunities and challenges, strategic planning and budget development, community collaborations/economic development, working with indigenous communities, legislative advocacy, accreditation, and building high performance athletic programs.

Dr. Robins holds a bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College (IL), a master’s degree in English from Illinois State University, and a Ph.D. in Community College Leadership from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was named an outstanding program graduate for his community college leadership.