Women’s History Month: Robin Walton First Woman to Serve as RCBC Board Chair
AC JosepH Media | Rowan College at Burlington County
MOUNT LAUREL — The Rowan College at Burlington County’s Board of Trustees selected Robin A. Walton as the new chair at its March meeting.
Walton, who joined the board last February, became the first woman to lead the college’s Board of Trustees. She is only the second African-American to serve as board chair, following Trustee Emeritus Ronald Winthers.
Walton currently serves as the senior vice president of government and external affairs at Inspira Health. There, she manages Inspira’s relationships with federal, state and local governments, regulatory agencies, key policymakers and community stakeholders.
As RCBC’s board chair, Walton hopes to implement greater access and focus on educational equity in Burlington County and beyond.
“We know by now that education is the greatest equalizer, so we must create greater opportunities for access and programs that respond to demands of today’s workforce and societal needs,” Walton said.
“We also know that everyone still does not have the same access to education nor the same experience during their educational journey. I look forward to working with my fellow trustees, President Cioce and his team on our call to action which is to respond in real time to identifying the best and most innovative programs, curriculum and partnerships, avenues for completion, transition to the workforce and creating leaders who are strong voices toward progress for our community.”
Walton emphasizes the importance of not just hearing the needs of RCBC’s diverse student population, but also to listen to individual voices while collectively working to reach solutions.
“As the board, we will support our leadership team in keeping an open-door policy for our students,” Walton said.
“This is how we will not only create access but also support completion. Greater resources to bring students in, a greater focus on how to connect with students and who they are at their core, what support services are needed, how and why and much more. Here is the thing: we think we know, and we do to some extent, but we must listen to the voices of our students to truly understand how to best do this.”
Although Walton began serving on RCBC’s board during a time of pandemic quarantine, she said that it always felt like an inclusive and engaging experience.
“The interesting thing is that, while it could have become easy to feel disconnected, that didn’t happen,” Walton shared. “There have been so many priorities to tackle as we focused on ensuring a ‘connected’ and high-quality experience during the pandemic that we never really missed a beat. I have always felt informed, included and as if my voice matters at the table.”
Over the years, Walton’s accomplishments have grown exponentially, and she has received numerous accolades, including but not limited to, the 2020 Trailblazer Award from the National Association of 100 Black Women of Southern New Jersey; spots on NJBIZ’s Top 40 Under 40 and Best 50 Women in Business; and the Maria Barnaby Greenwald Empowerment Award.
She hopes to build a culture at RCBC where sound governance is not solely about monitoring compliance, but also about encouraging a culture of collaboration and accountability. She understands the importance of maintaining a strong governance structure through ensuring that RCBC has a skilled, diverse Board who feel like they have an equal voice.
To learn more about RCBC’s Board of Trustees, visit www.rcbc.edu/board-of-trustees.
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