By: Sean Rhomberg
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas’ new provost is tasked with leading a university’s student body in the midst of a global pandemic.
Recently, Charles Robinson was appointed the permanent Provost after being appointed to the role in the interim since July of this year.
Robinson said it feels great to have the chancellor’s vote of confidence. “That is the best part,” Robinson said. “That the chancellor has confidence in my leadership and my ability to work with the academic affairs team.”
Robinson is tasked with the job of trying to lead student affairs at a university during a global pandemic.
He said a hard part of dealing with COVID is that his jobs in academic and student affairs have merged together. He now has to focus on all of his jobs at once rather than keeping them separate.
Robinson has kept in contact with the student body as a way to keep campus safe and informed at a time where the future is harder to predict than ever.
He temporarily cancelled in-person events on campus via email after the University’s COVID dashboard indicated nearly 1,000 active cases of COVID-19 at the beginning of September.
“Really, the message was more intended to say, ‘just take a pause,’” Robinson said.
He said though difficult to navigate, the ongoing pandemic has made both himself and the campus organization more skilled in the process.
While he likes the decrease in active cases in the campus community, Robinson said he wants to make sure everyone still understands the importance of getting tested when necessary and reporting any positive results to the university.
Robinson was promoted to the new role just three months ago following the former provost Jim Coleman’s move to the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.
One of Robinson’s favorite parts of being at the university he has been a part of since 1999 are his teaching roles.
“I love engaging with the people,” Robinson said. “I don’t teach as much because I don’t have the time, but having a connection with students is still rewarding.”