SUNY Old Westbury President Dr. Timothy Sams has announced that Dr. Jo-Ann Robinson will be Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff. She will report directly to Dr. Sams. Her functions will include managing the college’s strategic advancement, emergency response, and relations with the SUNY System. She is already working on behalf of Old Westbury.

Dr. Sams noted that Dr. Robinson brings great strength to the campus. Across her more than 30-year career in higher education, she has developed a proven record of success in the development and leadership of activities that fueled the success of her institutions and the students who attended them. Her career included work at Bluefield State College, Wilberforce University, North Carolina State University, The University of Texas at Austin, and Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Robinson’s experience is diversified, including roles leading activities in external community engagement, student development, enrollment management, academic support and advising, and diversity and inclusion, Dr. Sams stated.

“Dr. Robinson will play a critical role in our leadership as we move SUNY Old Westbury ever-forward,” Dr. Sams said. “While current circumstances won’t allow for most associated with SUNY Old Westbury to just walk up and say ‘hello,’ please don’t hesitate to welcome Dr. Robinson to our community when you can do so.”

Robinson earned her B.S. in Psychology from SUNY Brockport, followed by her M.A. in Social Science Emphasis Counseling from Binghamton University, and her Ph.D. in Educational Research and Policy Analysis from North Carolina State University.