University of Arkansas at Fort Smith elects new provost

College of Arkansas – Fort Smith Chancellor Terisa Riley has introduced the appointment of Shadow JQ Robinson as the following provost and vice chancellor of educational affairs, efficient July 1, 2022. 

Ken Warden, affiliate vice chancellor for compliance and legislative affairs, who chaired the search, mentioned the group was in a position to convey 5 extremely expert finalists to campus from quite a lot of backgrounds.

“We labored diligently to make sure all UAFS constituents had the chance to have interaction with every of them,” he mentioned “The committee labored tirelessly to finish a radical search, and the method resulted in an amazing rent with Dr. Robinson. His power and pleasure for our work is infectious. I believe he is an ideal match, poised to steer us into our subsequent part of greatness.”

Robinson, raised in rural Kentucky within the coronary heart of the Appalachian Mountains, mentioned the Ozarks really feel like dwelling. And because of the work of those that got here earlier than him, he mentioned, the UAFS campus and its place within the greater training panorama really feel each inviting and provoking.

“I’m assured Dr. Robinson will add great worth to the college by his data-informed strategy to tutorial affairs mixed with an modern and forward-looking manner of doing enterprise,” Riley mentioned. “He’s an extremely well-rounded one that leads with a ardour for educating college students and investing within the successes of school and workers. I’m desirous to work with him to advance the mission of the College of Arkansas – Fort Smith.”

Robinson mentioned he is very keen about not solely greater training, however the way it works with its group.

“When one among us thrives, the opposite one can even and that’s simply ingrained totally into the whole lot that Arkansas Fort Smith does as a college,” he mentioned. “Once I noticed that, I instantly went to the web site and I obtained a way of, you already know, it is a place that lives out what I imagine greater training ought to be about. It additionally occurs to be proper subsequent to those stunning mountains that speaks to me as a human being. I am grateful and honored to be chosen.” 

Robinson mentioned the college’s relationship with the town of Fort Smith attracted him to the place. He seems to be ahead to getting engaged in the neighborhood and doing issues he can to construct a relationship between the campus and group.

“To me, this partnership between a group and a college represents the most effective of upper training. It’s work I’ve been dedicated to for a while, and I’m honored to assist UAFS in persevering with its success on this work.”

Robinson mentioned the opposite factor meaning loads to him is the variety of college students on the college who’re first era. He wasn’t a primary era scholar himself, however he likes to think about the “story of the household.”

Robinson’s father was the youngest of 5, the primary to go to varsity and right now, Robinson is the third member of his prolonged household to be the next training college member. 

“I wasn’t even the primary to be a dean,” he mentioned. “That was one among my different cousins. Now I occur to be the primary provost, so I am going to lastly have a purpose to point out my face on the household reunions.”

Robinson seems to be again on the story of his household and the way his father struggled in faculty and needed to work exhausting to get by it.

“That one individual modified the trajectory of the complete household,” he mentioned. “We love to speak about and spotlight as a result of I believe it is true, we modify the lives of our college students, however I believe it is a lot greater than that. We modify the trajectory of the households.”

When one individual graduates with a level and may exit and discover significant work and a profession that issues to them to assist their household, Robinson mentioned, “we have not simply modified one individual, however we modify generations transferring ahead. And at an establishment like Fort Smith, you get that chance each single day.”

Robinson at the moment serves because the Dean of the School of Engineering and Pure on the College of Tennessee at Martin the place he gives tutorial, administrative and monetary management to greater than 100 college and workers, with an annual price range of greater than $6 million. 

“UAFS is uniquely poised as a result of, not like many different regional public universities, UAFS has solely been a four-year establishment for 20 years,” Robinson mentioned. “We’ve an opportunity to outline ourselves in a manner that meets the shared wants of our college students and the encompassing area. We’ve the chance to be a nationwide chief in how a college can nurture college students in tutorial applications that reply to alternatives and align with the wants of the area. I believe UAFS is able to be that chief.”