University of Southern Maine

Betty Robinson, Associate Professor of Leadership & Organizational Studies
Colby College, B.A.,1973; University of Maryland, M.A., 1976; Boston University, Ph.D., 1983.

Dr. Robinson's Ph.D. is in Sociology from Boston University. She also has both a baccalaureate and masters' degree from Colby College and University of Maryland respectively. Before returning to academia full-time in 1988, Betty spent seven years working as an analyst for labor unions. She came to USM/L-A attracted by the innovative interdisciplinary concept of the new college and its close affiliation with the local community.

For six years, Professor Robinson served as Assistant Professor of Leadership and Organizational Studies, although she also taught in the Social and Behavioral Sciences program. Soon after her promotion to Associate Professor, she was selected as Dean of the College, a position she held for seven years. During this time the size of our full-time faculty tripled with faculty members researching and publishing in areas such as innovative pedagogy, leadership and organizational studies, applied sciences, health and human services, and the humanities. The campus was known as the fastest growing part of the U. Maine System. In July, 2003, Dr. Robinson stepped back into the faculty ranks to resume her study and teaching in the field of leadership (particularly in our new Masters in Leadership Studies program) and to work on increasing the international component of our curriculum. In 2004, she led the first LAC international trip with students to universities in Botswanna and South Africa, exploring potential international institutional partnerships while also studying leadership in Southern Africa.

Prof. Robinson worked with USM's School of Business in their 2004 year of reflection on leadership in business with Dr. Ronald Heifetz from Harvard's Kennedy School. Within leadership studies, her focus is on the integration of theory and practice, as well as on new understandings about what leadership means or can mean for the 21st century and our shrinking globe.

Prof. Robinson has served on numerous boards of Lewiston-Auburn community organizations and a number of statewide entities including: Androscoggin United Way, Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education, Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce, Lewiston Aspiration Partnership (for K -12), Maine Music Society,Maine Math Science Alliance (for K- 12), L-A Excels (community and economic development, Lewiston Rotary, Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, Mechanics Savings Bank (Corporator), Sisters of Charity Health Systems (Corporator & Professional Review Committee), and Maine's Board of Arbitration and Conciliation. She currently serves on the Boards of the Maine Community Foundation and the Compact for Maine's Future (concerning the promotion of higher education in Maine.)

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