Tiffany Robinson, Registrar at Western Kentucky University, was elected to serve as the Vice President for Access and Equity in November 2016. We sat down with Tiffany to figure out how she got to this point in her career, and we are excited to share her story with you.
How did you get your start in higher education?
I was a student athlete at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. My junior and senior year I worked in the Women’s Basketball office during the summer. I had a lot of fun working with the staff, but also seeing my basketball coaches in a different light, in the office rather than on the court. Once my basketball eligibility was up, I started working in the Registrar’s office as a student worker. I enjoyed working in the office and began taking on more hours. I was the student they could count on to work every break and all holidays and the office reciprocated by getting me more involved in office procedures other than student work duties.
I’m guessing that was an easy orientation process! So how did you go from there to Western Kentucky University?
Yes, I already knew everyone in the office and I had done so much as a student worker that I was up to speed very quickly.
As to how I ended up at SIUC- After I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree I worked briefly in the Transcripts department and as an Extra Help person where I was needed in the Registrar’s Office. In 2001, I started working full time in the Registrar’s office. I stayed there for three and half years before going to work as an academic advisor for the Workforce Education and Development Off Campus Military program at SIU-Carbondale. I did that for three years until I served as an Assistant Director in the registrar’s office over NCAA Compliance and Publications. Some of our members will be familiar with Tina DeNeen – she was my boss when I moved into the Assistant Director role, I worked for Tina for nine months before she left to become the first Registrar at the University of North Texas. I served as acting director while the search was being conducted. When all was said and done, they ended up offering me the position which I happily accepted. I was supervising the office with many of the same employees that were my bosses years earlier when I was a student!
As for how I ended up at Western Kentucky University, I had been at SIU-Carbondale as either a student athlete or an employee for 21 years and just felt that I needed a change. I started applying to positions and during the search process something felt right about WKU for me and my family so when they offered me the role of registrar I was eager to make the jump.
(Ed: You might be interested to know that our own Executive Director, Mike Reilly, was a student worker at Iowa State under our current Associate Executive Director Janie Barnett, who was in charge of Office of Financial Aid some 20-25 years ago. Tiffany and Mike implore all of you to treat your student employees well, because you never know if they might end being your bosses later on down the line.)
But back on topic – how did your involvement with AACRAO begin?
In 2008, when I was serving as the Assistant Director under Tina DeNeen she told me I should get involved with AACRAO. I asked how, and she told me to serve as a member of the Professional Access and Equity Committee. So I did that for a few years even after she left for UNT and tried to stay active. Then about two years ago, Jackie Carter and Tina DeNeen rolled off as Chairs of the Black Caucus, and they asked that I chair that. Then I was asked to chair the Professional Access and Equity committee last year. I have also presented at a few of the annual meetings.
That’s a lot to take on!
I like a challenge. I’m happiest when I am learning and trying new things. Tina saw that in me and has always given me a push when I needed it. She has always given me great advice. She as well as Past President Adrienne McDay, Jackie Carter and Dr. Monique Snowden have been great role models and mentors during my membership with AACRAO. It’s been an exciting journey. I truly enjoy the time spent at the Annual meetings. I have time to network with colleagues and learn about things they are doing at their institutions that might be helpful at my own. The hardest part for me is being away from my kids.
What were your thoughts when you were nominated to stand for election for Vice President of Access and Equity?
This is one position that I really thought hard about. When making the decision I was reminded of a question that was asked at a presentation in Phoenix called I am Woman: See Me Achieve My Dream. One of the members asked about getting started on her PhD. She wanted to start but always seemed to have something come up to stop her. Dr. Jacquelyn Elliot said she just needed to jump. There would always be something that would come up, but you have to jump in order to achieve your dream. That statement stuck with me and I decided Dr. Elliot was exactly right, I need to jump.
I have 4 kids – my son is a college freshman, my daughter is a freshman in high school and very active in Beta club, Sports (Volleyball and Track), Choir and also plays the violin, and I have 2 younger kids that are 4 and 3 years old. It’s hard to be away from them, and I had a pretty good system for AACRAO-related travel; the Annual Meeting, the KACRAO meeting, the SACRAO meeting and the Leadership meeting were all kind of evenly spread, and made it easy to achieve a good work-life-AACRAO balance. Serving on the Board would mean a lot more travel. But ultimately, I wanted to serve and felt it was important to step up and take on this role.
What was your favorite Annual Meeting, or moment at an Annual Meeting?
Last year in Phoenix working with all of the caucuses – Black, Native America, Asian and Pacific Islander, Latina/Latino, and LGBTQA. Diversity and Inclusion became a theme across all of the caucuses and will continue to be our focus as we move forward. They will continue to build upon the theme “Join a Caucus, be a part of AACRAO IDEAS. IDEAS stands for Inclusion, Diversity, Education & Empowerment, Awareness & Allies and Strength & Support. In the past we had always been kind of separate entities without much overlap, but once we all got together we knew we had a much more powerful voice for the membership and the organization when we work together for a common goal.
What's the proudest moment in your career?
Honestly, when I got the phone call that I had been elected to serve as the Vice President for Access and Equity. I was so excited, I called my mom right after to let her know how happy I was. I will even admit to doing a little happy dance in my office. It was an honor to know that my colleagues felt I should serve on the Board of Directors. I am excited about this new opportunity and look forward to working with the Board and serving the membership.