My name is Douglas Robertson. I am a public intellectual, change agent, professor, former university dean, and poet.
drobert@fiu.edu
Founding Director, Social Science and Human Studies, Marylhurst College, Lake Oswego, Oregon, 1977-1989
Professor, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, 1989-1999
Founding Director, University Teaching and Learning Center, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 1999-2001
Founding Director, University Teaching and Learning Center, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky, 2001-2005
Assistant Provost, Professional Development Programs, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Kentucky, 2005-2008
University Undergraduate Dean, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 2008-2016
Professor, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 2016-present
Douglas L. Robertson. Tahiti Reef: Selected Poems and a Radically Short Story. Stillwater, OK: New Forums Press, 2022.
Web
steep ravine black
willow riverine
maple alder
fir & cedar ridges
sun shafting through
the green the green
fern sprays hanging
moss lacing limbs
fresh melt water
horse flies spider’s
strands
like silver bolts
in wind’s breath
Douglas L. Robertson
Tahiti Reef (2022, p. 21)
Amazon Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars "a moment like sunlit raindrops perched"
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2023
“This is a visceral and personal love song to being human, to sailing, to Miami, to the ocean, to the sun, to love, to friends and lovers, to rock, and to rain. There is no standing apart and reporting; the author and the writing itself are embedded in the elements—as the elements—intimately intertwined, ‘curling bodies / furled sails seas / full hearts full / hurled into / dark.’ There is no separation between the sun-hammered ocean and the earth, no separation between sky and rock, and whether sailing alone on the koan of a sloop or staying at the Scarface Hotel, the ordinary is revealed as extraordinary: ‘in the meadow an infinitude / of rays shaft through nothing / but blue endless blue.’ This is a book to savor and return to for the doubloons it unearths, inspiring us to look for ourselves and listen and be.”
==Hoag Holgren, Executive Director, The POD Network (2006-2023); Author, Paleos (2019), and No Better Place: A New Zen Primer (2019)
5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT POETRY SHOULD DO
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2022
“Slow time, get out of my head, into my world.”
==Peter R. Killeen, Past President, Association for Behavior Analysis International, and Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Arizona State University
Douglas L. Robertson (2023). Making Learning, Lessons Learned: An Intellectual Memoir on Developing as a College Teacher. Stillwater, OK: New Forums Press.
Douglas L. Robertson (2017). Making Change, Lessons Learned: A Primer for Change-Agents. Stillwater, OK: New Forums Press.
Readers’ Comments:
“This book is the work of an insightful higher education change-agent who has a very inviting and inclusive outreach herein to fellow travelers. There is something in here for every higher educator who is trying to effect meaningful change. The book reads more like an autobiographical novel than a change-agent manual for wannabe higher education innovators. This is the best way possible to stimulate others to try to be change-agents—-to present this vision in a very personal and engaging manner. This book places the author’s last four decades of efforts to strengthen undergraduate education through change-agentry into the larger historical panorama of our times and as such is also an interesting social/historical commentary. Reading this book made me want to go back and relive much of my own change-agent journey from the Civil Rights era forward. Consider this change-agent’s journey as a stimulus for reflections on your own change-agent journey and for directions you still have time to take. This coherent and interesting set of reflections gives change-agentry a good reputation.”
—John N. Gardner, President, John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education; Founding Director and Senior Fellow, National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition; Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Library and Information Science, University of South Carolina
“Doug Robertson has written an insightful, provocative, candid and at times poignant memoir about his life as a self-described change agent, working in the world of higher education, a place that too often does not welcome change. What I thought would only be a memoir actually turned out to be a very sophisticated interaction between theory (and theorists) and stories of practice; a scholarly approach to change in higher education, explored through a life of experiences. This ought to be required reading in graduate school for those about to enter the academy. I wish more people who have been on the front lines of change would reflect on their work. This memoir is a valuable contribution for the generations of change agents still to come.”
—George L. Mehaffy, Vice President for Academic Leadership and Change, American Association of State Colleges and Universities
“Reading this book is like taking a series of walks with a wise and trusted mentor. Along the way, you talk about your life stories, the books you have read and all the things you have learned from others. During these walks, you begin to see how all that you have learned can help you to make the world a better place.”
—Judith A. Ramaley, President Emerita and Distinguished Professor, Portland State University
“Part autobiography and part practical guide, Doug Robertson’s account of his life efforts to transform higher education is a must-read for anyone who has struggled to bring about meaningful change in an organization. With unwavering frankness, the author reveals what works and too often doesn’t work at American universities, and he offers real-life solutions that have been earned through years of experience.”
—Timothy M. Renick, Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Success, Vice Provost, and Professor of Religious Studies, Georgia State University
Amazon Reviews:
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2018
Doug Robertson beautifully describes the bliss, setbacks and resilience of a change agent. I am approaching the closure of a small Liberal Arts University that Doug and I both worked in. Doug's wonderful and insightful book is a message of universality and acceptance, persistence and letting go and the internal struggle dealing with shadow of organizational despair and neglect and then locating hope and resilience. Each page provides a breath of air and wisdom that is like a good therapy session or a fine musical. Making Change, Lessons Learned: A Primer for Change Agents helps me move forward. Thanks Doug for writing a poignant and meaningful book about making sense out of the success and setbacks in organizational living and reminding us of our own resilience and hope!!
5.0 out of 5 stars Guidebook for effective change
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2017
A wise life is one that changes what is imperfect and adapts to what cannot be changed. But most of us let cheap criticism stand in for the more difficult change. Making things change—social systems in particular—is a rare skill. Robertson has spent his life acquiring that skill, and deploying it to excellent consequence. Robertson’s book itself is a change agent—entwining the development of his life with the problems of institutional change faced at points along it, and the lessons learned in solving those problems. The lessons taught are useful for anyone who would lead a wise life; especially so for individuals in management. I wish I had this book years ago when I was chair of an academic department; it would have doubled my effectiveness. The book is a good read, as well as an excellent “gradus” for administrators.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Useful Primer Applicable to High Tech Startups
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2017
As a recently retired Professional Engineer who has been through two major high tech startups, I wish that I had read this book mid way through my career. "Making Change: Lessons Learned" brought me back to many analogous situations I encountered as a HW/SW EE, some not so fun. Doug has carefully arranged a sequence of well thought out chapters which build well on each other. Covering a variety of human/institutional strengths and weaknesses, this book will give you insights into what to avoid or embrace within your own company. Doug uses his own struggles within academia to affect a substantial and measureable undergrad graduation rate. How Doug gets buy-in and achieves his goal is worth the read by itself, but the author is true to his ideals and delivers a meaningful treatise on change-agentry.
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2017
A blend of amusing anecdotes, real life experiences and the wisdom of years of work as a change agent. Dr. Robertson makes what could be tedious reading of yet another "how to book" one that is engaging and no nonsense in his quest to impart his lifelong journey as a change agent. Enlightening and well worth the read! Never again will I look at any boards attempt at writing a "vision statement" in quite the same way.
5.0 out of 5 stars Wish I'd Had This Years Ago
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2017
I am retired now from university work. But this is the book that I wished I had had when I started my 25 years as a "change agent", aka a faculty developer. The author tells his own stories of trying to make changes in multiple university situations, usually successfully. In each story, the lessons are laid out very clearly - and salted with humor that make reading it enjoyable as well as enlightening.
Amazon Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for all faculty
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2008
A must read for all faculty experiencing overload. Wonderful suggestions about how to consciously make time for what you want, not be more productive to do more.
5.0 out of 5 stars Making Time, Making Change
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2004
The most common complaint that I hear from faculty is something like this: "I don't have enough time to do everything I need to do, much less the things I want to do." As a faculty member and faculty developer, Doug Robertson certainly understands this predicament. In his thoughtful and reflective style, he has researched the topic and written a very practical book about "avoiding overload in college teaching." In the first chapter, Robertson states his rationale and theoretical perspective by encouraging the reader to shift toward using time intentionally. The following six chapters outline his very useful ideas for doing this. The six principles for guiding new behaviors are: Be able to be efficient in all things; Express your values in how you use your time; Don't hoard responsibility; For every aspect of your teaching, find a time and place befitting it; Be short with many so that you can be long with a few; and Stick to your knitting, refer to other helpers when possible. In the final section of the book, Robertson reveals practical steps for handling competing commitments and an exercise for networking intentionally to gain support for your objectives. I have purchased multiple copies of this book for our faculty retreat and will probably have to order more. The book is a short, easy read that can initiate an important reflective process.
Sandra Chadwick Blossey, Ph.D.
Director, Christian A. Johnson Institute for Effective Teaching
Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida
5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Yet in Time Management for the Academic
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2004
Time management has come a long way since the primitive days of classifying tasks by more or less "urgent" and "important," and Robertson's Making Time, Making Change represents the farthest it has come. Robertson suggests many dozens of ways to be more efficient in the realm of teaching, but more than that, he takes a holistic approach to time management and expands it into life management. He posits that the way we use time reflects our deepest values and provides exercises that make us examine how we distribute our time across ALL areas of our life. Teaching is perhaps the most flexible area, and he shows how we can grab control over it by drawing perfectly fair boundaries in our relationships with students, without sacrificing the quality of the rapport. Some of his time-saving ideas are not only smart but novel as well, for example: making study guides a student assignment and using forms of non-instructor feedback to supplement our own. What is truly life-tranforming about Robertson's approach is that he includes step-by-step exercises for overcoming our natural resistance to making changes. This book indeed offers a wealth of practical, concrete changes we can make to literally manage away our work overload.
5.0 out of 5 stars Critical advice for all
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2005
In our often complicated and frenetic age, this wonderful little book should be read, and internalized, by all faculty and administrators in higher education, who are under a lot of pressure from many sectors. The most commonly heard complaint is, "I don't have time for that...." With years of good and varied experience in higher education and sage insights, Douglas Robertson offers advice and practical suggestions for addressing this complaint, for changing one's way of living, for improving teaching and learning and one's own satisfaction with work activities and results. The prose is well written and easily readable; and there is clear and evident good humor and a strong sense of concern expressed for people as individuals.
Don't miss this one if you're in higher education! (And even if you're not, it's well worth reading as the thoughts and suggestions can be transferred to any sector of activity.)
Kay Gillespie, Ph.D.
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent resource for higher education faculty
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2004
As a yet-to-be tenured assistant professor, this book offered just the advice I needed to meet the demands of academia while maintaining my sanity. Dr. Robertson's book is clearly and concisely written, designed for the over-burdened professor who does not have much time for additional outside reading. This book would be valuable for faculty at any career stage, but particularly helpful to those new to academia. Also, women who are juggling marriage, childcare, and a career in academia would find Dr. Robertson's book encouraging. It's not a "rah-rah" book. Rather, a text that provides solid advice on how to accomplish significant goals necessary to serve your college or university. You will not be disappointed.
5.0 out of 5 stars Timely Book
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2004
The strength of Robertson's book is that he combines a theoretical background with practical applications. He is an academic writing about academia, and so he knows what he is talking about. While not all his tips apply to everyone, there are tips that do. Especially worthwhile are the sections wherein he asks for interaction, particularly in counting up the amount of work one does. His suggestions about technological applications of his theory make the book usable in fields outside of academia, such as business.
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a must read for faculty!
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2004
This is an easy-to-read and put-into-practice kind of book, useful for any faculty member. As department chair, I provided copies to the faculty and staff in an effort to encourage a healthier and more productive work environment and saw results right away, especially in better management and use of time (Chapter 2). Most ideas are practical, however, readers may find limited administrative support for some of Dr. Robertson's suggestions discussed in Chapter 5. For other readers, this book will provide confirmation of practices already in place.
Douglas L. Robertson (2003). Making Time, Making Change: Avoiding Overload in College Teaching. Stillwater, OK: New Forums Press.
Readers’ Comments:
“Self-Directed Growth is a valuable map to the no-man’s land where education, philosophy, adult-development, and counseling meet. …I can imagine that it will follow the route taken by underground classics: word of mouth, loans that are never returned, gifts bought by the dozen for one’s friends, and purchases by thousands of people who see the book on a shelf and grasp intuitively (and correctly) that this book is talking about them.”
—William Bridges, Author, Transitions
"…a superb resource for both the adult learner and the faculty member or administrator… grapple[s]—successfully—with difficult concepts , such as ‘change,’ ‘growth,’ and ‘development’… exhibits quite gently, an impressive breadth of knowledge… I will recommend this book to the adult learners in my school, as well as our faculty and staff. I urge others to do the same!”
—William H. Bergquist, President, The Professional School of Psychology, San Francisco, California; Co-author, Designing Undergraduate Education
“This wonderfully readable,, practical, theoretically sound and poetic book will help all adults—whether they define, themselves as teacher or learner—to better understand and use both others’ theories and their own experience as they develop their unique styles in the ‘art of growing.’ …required reading for every adult learner, teacher, manager, worker who has become addicted, as I have, to the marvelous, mysterious phenomenon that we call learning. …a significant contribution.”
—Elinor M. . Greenberg, Founding Director, University Without Walls, Loretto Heights College
“This very special book calls for a new approach to knowing, one that relates the knower to the known and integrates self and world. Self-Directed Growth, builds on Doug Robertson’s solid experience with adult learners and reflects his commitment to and deep respect for adult men and women who are willing to take responsibility for their own making of meaning. The writing of this book has been enriched by Robertson’s unusual capacity to listen and learn from his adult students. He relates intellectual substance to concrete, lived experience. Rich theoretical discussions are tied to the contexts, conditions, and struggles with life that foster adult learning and growth. In Self-Directed, adult students now have a guide to assist them in the cultivation of one of life’s most valuable capacities, learning to learn.”
—R. Eugene Rice, Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology, University of the Pacific, and Senior Fellow, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Princeton.
Douglas L. Robertson. Self-Directed Growth, New York, NY: Brunner-Routledge. 1988.
Readers’ Comments:
Kay J. Gillespie & Douglas L. Robertson, Editors. A Guide to Faculty Development, Second Edition. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2010.
“This volume contains the gallant story of the emergence of a movement to sustain the vitality of college and university faculty in difficult times. This practical guide draws on the best minds shaping the field, the most productive experience, and elicits the imagination required to reenvision a dynamic future for learning societies in a global context.”
—R. Eugene Rice, Senior Scholar, Associations ofAmerican Colleges and Universities
“Across the country, people in higher education are thinking about how to prepare our graduates for a rapidly changing world while supporting our faculty colleagues who grew up in a very different world. Faculty members, academic administrators, and policymakers alike will learn a great deal from this volume about how to put together a successful faculty development program and create a supportive environment for learning in challenging times.”
—Judith A. Ramaley, President, Winona State University
“This is the book on faculty development in higher education. Everyone involved in faculty development—including provosts, dean, department chairs, faculty, and teaching center staff—will learn from the extensive research and the practical wisdom in the Guide.”
—Peter Felten, President, The POD Network (2010=2011), and Director, Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning, Elon University
Douglas Robertson & Linda B. Nilson, Editors (2008). To Improve the Academy,, Vol. 26. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Douglas Robertson & Linda B. Nilson, Editors (2007). To Improve the Academy,, Vol. 25. Bolton, MA: Anker Press.
Sandra Chadwick-Blossey & Douglas Robertson, Editors (2006). To Improve the Academy, Vol. 24. Bolton, MA: Anker Press.
Sandra Chadwick-Blossey & Douglas Robertson, Editors (2006). To Improve the Academy, Vol. 23. Bolton, MA: Anker Press.
