Larry Robinson Appointed Vice President for Research at FAMU

Florida A&M University (FAMU) President James H. Ammons has appointed Larry Robinson, as FAMU’s vice president for Research. Robinson served as a professor in the Environmental Sciences Institute at FAMU and director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“I am honored to be selected to serve as vice president for Research at Florida A&M University and join Dr. Ammons’ impressive leadership team,” said Robinson. “The work that we do in the Division of Research will allow the University to execute our institutional mission. There is an array of complex issues confronting our nation including economic development. Solutions to these issues rest within ingenuity and novel ideas of persons who come to this campus everyday.”

One of Robinson’s goals is to engage FAMU’s talented faculty, students and staff in research, discovery, technology transfer and extension, which will be of great benefit to the state of Florida and the nation.

In September 2008, Ammons appointed Dean Makola Abdullah of FAMU’s College of Engineering, Sciences, Technology and Agriculture as chair of the search committee for the vice president for Research. This was a national search, which yielded 20 qualified candidates. A committee of faculty members from various schools and departments from across the campus comprised the search committee.

“I am pleased to have Dr. Robinson, an accomplished researcher, join my leadership team at this pivotal time in the university’s history,” said Ammons. “With his level of expertise and experience, we will strengthen our research infrastructure, increase our faculty and students involvement in research, and develop collaborations with various agencies and industries. FAMU will be involved in the development of new discoveries and technologies that will improve the quality of life for our state and nation. We want to facilitate innovation through our research initiatives and Dr. Robinson can help us to make this a reality. We are excited about our future in the area of research. ”

Robinson has secured more than $35 million in contracts and grants from various agencies such as the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the United Negro College Fund, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

He earned his bachelor of science in chemistry from Memphis State University and his Ph.D. in nuclear chemistry from Washington University.

He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Ecological Society of America, the National Association of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers and Sigma Xi.

Robinson is currently on assignment as a senior scientific advisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service in Washington, DC. He will begin the vice president position later this spring.