First African American Professor and Associate Dean in COBA

The biggest reward for me is not a plaque or certificate, it’s making a positive impact on students’ lives and helping them succeed.

As the first African American woman hired to teach in Sam Houston State University’s College of Business Administration, Shani Robinson’s journey as a champion in higher education is a testament to determination, resilience and a passion for continuous learning. Robinson, currently serving as the senior associate dean, is also the first African American in the history of the institution to occupy an associate dean position within Academic Affairs.

”My favorite subject in school was math. I was always very comfortable with numbers,” Robinson said. A love for math and numbers as a young student led Robinson to earn a degree in accounting at SHSU. After finding the precision of the field appealing, she secured a career in public accounting for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Houston. Despite her success, she felt a desire to make a greater impact in education, which led her to pursue an MBA from SHSU and a PhD from the University of North Texas.

Robinson then returned to SHSU, where she had thrived as a student, to launch a new career. Leading with a focus on relationship building, teamwork and leveraging strengths, Robinson values diverse perspectives, recognizing their importance.

“Being the first African American Associate Dean is not an obstacle, it’s an opportunity,” Robinson said.

Since becoming a leader in higher education, Robinson has enjoyed opportunities to positively impact students and introduce them to career options they never knew existed. This outreach even includes numerous K–12 institutions, visiting elementary schools and speaking to young students about the field of business.

Thank-you cards she received after speaking at one elementary school were most meaningful to her because they reminded her why she works in higher education. In a sea of prestigious awards, Robinson believes those cards of gratitude hold the most significance.

“The biggest reward for me is not a plaque or certificate, it’s making a positive impact on students’ lives and helping them succeed,” she said.