Begins new role on Executive Team July 1, 2018
Tia Robinson, EdD, starts her new position as provost and vice president of academic affairs at Inver Hills Community College July 1, 2018. Dr. Robinson succeeds Lynda Milne, who served in an interim capacity in that role from September 2017.
Dr. Robinson previously served as vice president of academic affairs and chief academic officer at East Central College in Union, Missouri. She has 25 years of diverse higher education experience, providing academic leadership and vision, championing academic excellence, and implementing student success initiatives that enriched the quality of education for students while furthering the mission and vision of the institution.
Prior to working at East Central College, Dr. Robinson served in the following capacities:
- Dean of teaching and learning at Rock Valley College
- Dean of instruction and adjunct faculty at City Colleges of Chicago
- Dean of academic affairs at Northwestern College
Hallmarks of her career include:
- Increasing the number of students enrolled in dual credit courses
- Building new high school partnerships
- Developing academic and career pathways
- Reviewing and revising curriculum
- Streamlining the enrollment process
- Supporting the faculty tenure process
- Initiating campus-wide implementation of an online bookstore
- Working with faculty to develop learning communities
- Improving persistence and completion rates
- Assessing student learning outcomes
Dr. Robinson led successful reaffirmation accreditations for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), and the Commission of Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), and launched new programs in Nursing and Radiology.
She earned her Doctorate in Counseling, Adult and Higher Education, from Northern Illinois University, where she also earned her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Speech-Language Pathology.
Dr. Robinson holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) and a Master of Science in Managerial Leadership Development from National Louis University as well as an Associate of Science (A.S.) from Kishwaukee Community College.
More about Tia Robinson…
Tia has three grown children, Quintin, 28, Kendall, 27, and Briana, 20. Her fiancé, Jarod, is a career professional in the field of social services and community partnerships. Tia and Jarod are looking to find a new home in St. Paul, Woodbury or Eagan.
When she’s not working, Tia enjoys cooking and trying out a variety of new recipes. She also likes going out to the movies and traveling.
Tia Robinson Q & A
What do you consider your most important responsibility as provost and vice president of academic affairs?
My most important responsibility will be focusing on maintaining academic quality by working closely with faculty and external stakeholders. I am also looking forward to guiding the college in its adoption of the HLC Open Pathway after HLC’s recent sunsetting of AQIP.
What is your greatest strength as an administrator?
I have a keen focus on building relationships and partnerships, specifically with faculty and community members. I am also strong on growing programs and enrollment using data-driven decision-making while creating a culture of shared leadership on campus.
How can Inver Hills best prepare to meet the needs of future students?
We need to continue delivering quality academic programs, resources and support that allow our students to achieve their transfer goals or find success in the workplace. Our students need opportunities to develop skills and credentials with economic value.
What is the greatest challenge faced by community colleges?
Due to a continued decline in state funding, we need to do more with less. We can build strong academic programs aligned with the college mission by being creative when allocating our resources. Accountability related to accreditation is another challenge.
What is your top priority for your first year at Inver Hills?
Analyzing new program opportunities with the goal to deliver the right suite of programming to meet the needs of our students and community. I would also like to advance the conversation regarding the new Master Academic Plan. I see the plan as a great opportunity to guide and strengthen our academic programming through new goals, initiatives and priorities.
Tia Robinson | 12 Answers
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Weight training, running and cross-training; I worked as a fitness instructor while I was earning my doctorate; teaching class at 4:30 in the morning is a great way to reduce stress.
Place you would most like to visit: South Africa- The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: I went on a Caribbean cruise by myself; I was always placed with a new group at dinner and on excursions; I found meeting so many new and diverse people very exciting.
- Your personal motto if you had to have one: “Appreciate the naysayers for they ultimately serve to give you strength.”
- Favorite all-time TV show: The Flintstones
- Favorite all-time movie: I have two: Love Jones and Mo’ Better Blues
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Enter a women’s weight-training and fitness competition
Most precious material possession: A red, white and green snowman nightgown that was the last gift from my grandmother- Dream occupation: Sommelier
- Person you would most like to meet: Maya Angelou or Oprah
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: I’ve always wanted to study herbalism and aromatherapy
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Loss of civility and kindness toward each other
To learn more about the Executive Team at Inver Hills, contact:
Angela Burns
Marketing Director
Inver Hills Community College
Dakota County Technical College
651-423-8233
