By Ciaran Lambert/tr news editor
Beginning a new job is always hard.
Whether it’s because the environment is new, the faces are not familiar or there’s a hint of doubt that it’s the right job, the fear is always there.
For TR Campus’ newest divisional deans, Joseph Cameron and Dr. Scott Robinson, this is not the case.
Cameron, TR divisional dean of health care professionals and wellness, is new to the North Texas area and is more than happy to be at TCC.
“I love it. I don’t know any other way to describe it, the feeling of being here,” he said.
Cameron is a biologist with 12 years of experience as a department chair at Hinds Community College in Jackson, Miss. He’s taught anatomy and physiology, microbiology and zoology.
While at Hinds, he worked closely with its allied health department in the fields of dental hygiene, radiology, surgical technology and respiratory and occupational therapy. He plans to do the same here.
Cameron also has experience at another Jackson school, Belhaven University, as executive director of curriculum before being promoted to executive director of online distance learning.
While serving at Belhaven, Cameron developed its online distance learning program that now has multiple degrees online as well as graduate programs. He wrote the software program for it and led the faculty in asynchronous, synchronous and blended-course delivery formats.
“We went from zero degrees to a BSM [Bachelor of Science in Management] degree and then started to add more degrees and graduate programs,” he said.
Cameron is a strong believer in multimedia use to reach students and to improve their success, especially in the nursing/allied health programs.
“My plan is to increase the number of students having access to health programs,” he said, “also having Achieving the Dream at the forefront of our agenda and our thoughts.”
Cameron sums up the future of his time here in one word.
“Historical. To be a part of history in the making is amazing,” he said. “It’s a defining moment.”
For Robinson, TR has welcomed the Fort Worth native back to TCC and North Texas.
“I’m in heaven,” Robinson said. “It’s like a homecoming for me. It’s exciting and dynamic. I’ve often remarked to my wife, ‘I’d like to move back.’ We always planned to retire in Fort Worth, and now we’re here, just a few years earlier.”
Robinson, TR divisional dean of humanities, began his college career as a freshman at TCC. In 1997, he returned to TCC to teach American History.
Ten years later, Robinson accepted a position at Collin County College in McKinney. While there, he presented a paper that impressed the powers-that-be at Stephen F. Austin University into offering him its art school’s director position.
Robinson impacted the SFA community by preparing the school for its accreditation and serving on its Quality Enhancement Plan team.
Robinson was committed to his students and their success as he worked with more than 300 undergraduate and graduate art students and said he is carrying that dedication over to TR.
“The community is the college. You don’t really find that at four-year schools,” he said.
Robinson is happy to be home and working again in the TCC community. He has but one philosophy on teaching his students.
“If you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong,” he said.
Robinson said he and Cameron get along and look forward to working together to create a large community of the smaller ones on TR.
“Honestly, the history is that of a suburban college,” he said. “We are working on changing what we mean by community in community college, a synergy between the different types of communities we service.”
Robinson said TR has multiple communities in the fields of medicine, business and the arts.
The TR arts program is blessed because of the surrounding facilities, he said.
“We have the museum, and the Bass Hall is just down the road,” he said.
Both Robinson and Cameron are working hard at TR and loving every minute of it.
“It’s like I said before. The community is the college,” Robinson said.
