Steve Robinson began his community college career teaching freshman composition at Lansing Community College in 1993 as a faculty intern. 27 years later, he became the college’s seventh president. His higher education career has spanned every aspect of teaching, administration, planning, management and organizational operations. Prior to being named president in a national search in July of 2020, he previously served as president at Owens Community College in Toledo, Ohio. During his tenure, he led the college through a serious financial crisis, placing that institution on sound fiscal footing. Before joining Owens, Robinson served as Executive Dean of Planning and Research at Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan.
Robinson first moved to the Lansing area at age 18 to attend Michigan State University, where he earned Ph.D., M.A. and B.A. degrees in English. His master’s degree is specifically in English Community College Teaching. Prior to becoming an administrator, he spent fifteen years as a full-time community college faculty member, ten years as President of the faculty union, and six years as a Board Member of the Michigan Education Association (MEA) in Lansing. Before launching his community college career, Robinson worked for a number of Lansing organizations, including WKAR and Elderly Instruments. While a student at Michigan State, he hosted a weekly program he created on WDBM 89FM dedicated to African music, culture and news. An amateur musician, Robinson played in a number of Lansing-area bands and continues to sit in on bass guitar with local musicians.
At four-year institutions, he served as a member of the graduate faculty in English at the University of Michigan-Flint. He also served as a chair and faculty advisor in the Doctorate in Community College Leadership (DCCL) program at Ferris State University, as well as the Doctoral Program in Higher Education at the University of Toledo. He currently serves on the advisory board of the Community College Policy and Administration doctoral program at University of Maryland Global Campus.
After earning his Ph.D., Robinson pursued post-doctoral training in college administration and student success. He is a graduate of the Chair Academy for Leadership and Development, the Harvard Management Development Program (MDP), as well as the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence. Through his association with the Aspen Institute, he has served as a site evaluator for the prestigious $1M Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Additionally, he often serves as an instructor/facilitator of Aspen’s Community College Excellence training in both Ohio and Michigan, including the Student Success and Strategic Finance modules for community college leaders.
His writing has appeared in publications such as Forbes, The Atlantic, Diverse Issues, Inside Higher Education, ACCT Trustee Quarterly and Community College Daily. He is a member of the invitation-only Global Community College Leadership Network, the advocacy network Education for All, and serves on the Editorial Board of Community College Review. Locally, he serves on the boards of the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA), Mid-Michigan Red Cross, the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, and the Lansing Area Economic Partnership (LEAP).
Robinson is the creator of the national #EndCCStigma social media campaign and host of the End Community College Stigma Podcast. He has a background in audio production and radio and hosts two local podcasts on LCC Connect and WLNZ: Alumni Stories and Teachable Moment. A passionate advocate for students, he is also the creator and co-sponsor of the LCC Vinyl Record club, an active and inclusive registered student organization at LCC.