He Was Only Supposed to Stay A Year ‘Doc R’ Spent 43 Years Challenging, Developing Young Minds BY SCOTT QUEEN
T
his summer, Dr. O.A. “Berre” Robinson is building an addition at his stately home on West Davis Street in Fayette. Robinson, who retired from Central Methodist University in 2021, “didn’t have any place” for all his books. Robinson has been building something even greater for the past 43 years – he’s been building young minds and strong relationships. The longtime CMU philosophy professor can’t seem to part with the books that helped him nurture 10,000 CMU students along the way. “I really never thought about doing anything other than this,” Robinson said. “I’ve been offered other positions but turned them all down.” He remembers the exact moment that he decided Central Methodist was the place he would put down roots for the rest of his career. “It was a 9 o’clock class, and a young woman came in wearing a chicken suit,” he laughed. “I lost it. I doubled over laughing. That’s when I decided this was a good fit and that I felt comfortable here.” One of the best rewards from teaching, he says, is getting “to see the ‘aha moment’ when something finally makes sense to a student. When their face lights up with understanding. That’s why I stayed in this business.” At Central over the years, Robinson, who was hired by President Joe Howell, has taught the entire philosophy sequence: history, ethics, abnormal psychology, the study of death and dying, and a class simply called "Happiness." And he has served as dean and vice president. “I came as an adjunct and was only supposed to stay a year,” he said. “But it worked out pretty well.” Robinson has seen a lot at Central – he’s seen it at its best and at its worst. “There were some hard times institutionally, but I’m really happy where things are now,” he said.
4 The Talon | Spring 2022
