Dr. Robinson enjoys 'Pop-Up with Prez'

By Kaitlyn Delaney
Associate Editor/Photo Editor

Multiple times throughout the year, LCC President Dr. Steve Robinson finds spots throughout campus to sit down and talk to any students and employees interested.

His most recent session of “Pop-Up with the Prez” occurred Monday, March 25 in the Gannon Building Commons area.

During his Pop-Up sessions, Robinson will sit down for about an hour to talk with anyone about anything. Whether people have questions, ideas or concerns, he is willing to listen and have a conversation.

Robinson said he enjoys how casual the event is.

“It’s a way for me to informally get to know people,” Robinson said. “A lot of students or faculty members or staff members don’t usually come to the president’s office, or if they do it’s for a specific meeting or something. So it’s an informal way for me to get to know people in the college.”

He also talked about how he likes this layout better than how he was meeting and getting to know students previously.

“When I first became a college president, at another college, I did what I saw a lot of other college presidents do,” Robinson explained. “They would just wander around and sit down and start talking to students. I have always found that a little uncomfortable, like I was encroaching.

“As I look around this room, I see a lot of people. Like maybe they would like to talk to me, but maybe they are just getting ready for class, and it felt a little intrusive. So this way people can opt in. If they see this sign they can say. ‘OK, I’d like to talk to the president.’”

Robinson said the topics of conversation vary vastly.

“People have asked me about different programs that we might start at the college; people have asked me questions about my background,” he said. “… It really runs the gambit. People have mentioned their student clubs.

“Sometimes faculty who come talk to me just want to let me know about cool things that are happening in their classes. So really, it’s all over the place.”

Student Caitlyn Wells said she liked that the president is willing to talk to students and answer any questions they may have.

“It’s actually very helpful, depending on what you have to talk to him about,” Wells said. “So, it helped me better understand what I have to do on Wednesday.”

The next Pop-Up, and last for this semester, will be on Tuesday, April 23 from 3 to 4 p.m. in the TLC building on the first floor.