Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Evanston Township High School
Ball State alumnus Dr. Keith Robinson, ’95, built a career in education and public service, becoming associate principal at Evanston Township High School and the first Black trustee of Skokie, Ill.
Before Ball State University graduate Dr. Keith A. Robinson, ’95, served his community as an educator, a coach, and an elected official, he was a young man searching for direction.
His plan to join the armed forces after graduating from high school fell through when he was medically disqualified in April of his senior year because he had once been hospitalized for asthma as a youth.
“Maybe I’ll go to college,” he said to himself, even though he had never aspired to attend college. He applied to a few universities in Indiana. Ball State was the only one that accepted him.
“It turned out to be the best place for me; a blessing. I went from ‘What am I going to do now?’ to ‘I am going to get my education and I am going to help others,’” said Dr. Robinson, who was a first-generation college student.
At Ball State, he developed strong connections with other students and faculty, including several professors and a Teachers College dean who saw potential in him. Later, he joined the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. Some of his older fraternity brothers became mentors for him. All of this helped him build the foundation for his sense of belonging and community on campus, his personal and academic growth—and, ultimately, his success at Ball State and beyond.
“My time at Ball State gave me a perspective, a career, and a pathway that I probably would have never considered otherwise,” said Dr. Robinson, who earned his bachelor’s degree in English from the College of Sciences and Humanities. He continued his educational pursuits, earning his master’s in education administration and supervision from Roosevelt University and his doctorate in educational leadership from National Louis University.
Dr. Robinson followed a career path with opportunities to guide and inspire young students. Today, he is the associate principal for educational services at Evanston Township High School in Evanston, Ill. His previous education positions include teaching at Gary Roosevelt High School, coaching football and boys’ swimming at Pike High School in Indianapolis, coaching football at Lane Tech College Prep High School in Chicago, and coaching football at Evanston Township High School. He also served as dean of students at Niles West High School and assistant principal for operations at Niles North High School—both in the Village of Skokie, Ill.
Beyond his work as an educator and coach, Dr. Robinson continues to serve others. He is the first Black trustee elected for the Village of Skokie. Additionally, Dr. Robinson is a member of several boards, including the Ball State University Foundation’s Board of Directors and the Teachers College Advisory Council at Ball State.
He and his wife, Dr. Sharon Robinson, a pediatrician, have two daughters, Taryn and Kari.
Dr. Keith Robinson shared more in this brief Q&A:
What are your thoughts about being the first Black trustee elected for the Village of Skokie?
“I feel blessed and fortunate to be able to represent the community in that way. To me, it means that I’m living right and making good decisions, which makes people see me for who I am. In my career, I’ve supported families in respectful ways. People trust and believe in who I am and my ability to articulate and serve them in ways that are in their best interests.”
How has Ball State contributed to your evolution into who you are today?
“Those great teachers, that first introduction to teaching at that level and the understanding of the science behind it, plus the joy and love of education—all of that intersected at Ball State. Also, the community and friendships I formed at Ball State have been great. I’ve stayed very closely connected to folks from my fraternity and college community. It has helped shape who I am today.”
Why do you continue your relationship with Ball State?
“My college experience and the connections I made there are part of the main reasons I’m still committed to my relationship with Ball State University. And, I’m loyal to a person or a place that provides space for me to be my best self. Ball State was the only place that gave me the opportunity to do that at the college level.”
