Q&A: LT Robinson strives to help students feel connected

AUGUST 29, 2024 — People can usually spot LaTonya (LT) Robinson walking around campus, mingling and chatting with students, learning about them and hearing their concerns.

Those connections with students are something that Robinson takes very seriously in her role as the senior vice provost of student affairs and dean of students. She knows all too well what it feels like to be lost as a college student, which is why it’s her mission to help students feel connected from the day they begin classes at UTSA to the moment they cross the stage at the Alamodome.

UTSA Today spoke with Robinson to learn about her passion for helping students.

First, tell me a little about yourself and your life before UTSA.

LR: I'm from the 5th Ward in Houston and have humble beginnings. Both of my parents did not get past the 5th grade. As blue-collar workers, my parents greatly valued education and wanted me to reach beyond what they were able to achieve. They were always very supportive of my options for going to school. But because they did not have the experiences themselves, they didn’t know how to help me.

I stumbled through the process of getting into higher education. I didn't even know I would get a chance to go to college, but I was nominated for a scholarship, which allowed me to start my undergrad studies.

I did my undergraduate work at Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas. Thankfully, student affairs leaders helped guide me and helped me figure out how to navigate college. Housing professionals, student activities professionals and my academic advisor all helped guide me to success.

My mentors encouraged me to try for grad school, so I did that and attended Western Illinois University and received a master’s in student personnel.

After grad school, my first full-time job was as a hall director at an all-women's residence hall at East Carolina University.

After ECU, you spent 13 years at the University of Texas at Austin, also working in housing, but what eventually brought you to UTSA? What attracted you to the university?

LR: After being at UT Austin for as long as I was, I was looking for professional development outside of housing.

I wanted to find a place where I could participate more in the work. UT Austin was such a big place and I was looking for something with a bit more of a familial feel where I could make more of an impact on students. UTSA checked all those boxes for me.

For those unfamiliar with your role, what exactly is a senior vice provost for student affairs and dean of students?

LR: For the senior vice provost portion of the role, I focus on our vision. I am thinking divisionally and institutionally about how to lead this broad team of multiple departments, how to do this work of events and services and support for students from a well-being, involvement and advocacy perspective.

The second part of my role as the dean of students is to listen to and amplify the voices of our students so that we can improve the campus culture and their experiences with us.

How do you involve students in your day-to-day activities?

LR: We do that in multiple ways, but one of the most significant ways I do it is by engaging directly with students.

When students are tabling out on the Sombrilla, doing fundraisers, or having events or activities, I stop by and chat with them. I provide suggestions that may support their events and stop by meetings to ask them questions about what resources they might still need.

I also work with our staff members. So, whether they are advising student organizations or building events and activities for them, one of my biggest questions is, "Have you asked the students yet?" "How have you gotten students involved in that process?"

What are you most proud of?

LR: I'm most proud of — and this has happened on more occasions than I would have expected — when a student stops me on the Sombrilla, through email, at a meeting or commencement and says that they noticed that I advocated for the campus, that I advocated for students, and that my role helped them as first-generation college students.

With the new school year starting, what can students expect for the upcoming year?

LR: Students can expect multiple opportunities to remain connected to the campus. In Student Affairs, we focus on involvement in the student experience from the moment they join us with Roadrunner Days to Commencement.

Our students can expect us to provide continuous opportunities for roadrunners to contribute to our on-campus traditions. They can get involved in a student organization. They can participate in an event or an activity. They can get involved on their floor if they live on campus. If they live off campus, they can participate in the Student Government Association or any of the academic councils that exist. Or they can get involved in their community through our VOICES (Volunteer Organization Involving Community, Education and Services) student organization. There are so many ways for them to remain connected.

All of those opportunities are out there, and we can work with them to create additional ones.

Lastly, do you have any advice for incoming students?

LR: I have multiple pieces of advice for them. The first is to build self-care for themselves.

When I think about this generation of students, they have such a complex life. They might be experiencing or dealing with their families, with the expectations of succeeding educationally and identifying ways to explore their careers to cope with this world today.

I encourage students to check out the incredible resources in Student Affairs and our campus partners that support success, including wellbeing education sessions, free popcorn in the Student Union, and a variety of events hosted throughout campus posted on RowdyLink.

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Next, I highly encourage students to get involved in student organizations. It's not necessary to hold a leadership role in these groups, but if time allows, these are great opportunities to strengthen future employment skills. Explore the organizations that fulfill and challenge you so that you can get the most out of your experience with us.

Finally, I encourage students to explore career options before your senior year. Connect with the Career Center and the Student Success Center for your academic college to build a plan that includes future internships, resume and interview tools, and potential career paths.

— Valerie Bustamante Johnson

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