Effective October 1, 2024, Dr. Carleen Vincent-Robinson will become the new Board Chair for the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Program, succeeding Dr. Sophal Ear.

The Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Program is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Carleen Vincent-Robinson as the new Chair of the Board of Directors. With a proven track record in nonprofit leadership and community engagement, Dr. Vincent-Robinson brings a fresh perspective and commitment to strengthening our connections with our stakeholders and building a sustainable future for PPIA and the communities we serve.

Dr. Vincent-Robinson brings a wealth of experience and a distinguished background to this leadership role. She currently serves as a Teaching Professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice and the Associate Dean for Student Success and Engagement in the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs at Florida International University (FIU). In these roles, she oversees a wide range of initiatives, including student success, academic advising, career readiness, scholarships, curricular changes, course accessibility, academic misconduct, faculty credentialing, leadership development, and community engagement.

Her previous roles include Assistant Dean of the Green School and various positions within the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, such as Associate Chair, Undergraduate Program Director, and Field Experience Director. Dr. Vincent-Robinson’s dedication to addressing community issues and their impact on community stakeholders is evident through her extensive work as a lecturer and panelist on critical topics like gun violence, intimate partner violence, violence in the Black community, social justice, public health from a criminal justice perspective, and leadership development.

Dr. Vincent-Robinson has also served as a Faculty Fellow for the Office to Advance Women, Equity, and Diversity, and for Social Justice and Inclusion and Student Access and Success. These roles have enabled her to expand awareness and understanding of racism, facilitate training on implicit bias and microaggressions, and educate colleagues on strategies for recruiting and retaining employees from marginalized groups. Currently, she is a Faculty Fellow with the Office of the Provost, where she reviews issues related to academic misconduct and employee labor relations. Dr. Vincent-Robinson is deeply involved in professional in-service programming focused on leadership development. She has served as a member of the Curriculum Taskforce for the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the PPIA Program as well as President of the Board of Directors of Crime Stoppers of Miami-Dade and the Keys and holds significant roles in various educational and professional organizations including, but not limited to, a peer evaluator for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. 

An FIU double-alumna, Dr. Vincent-Robinson earned an Ed.D. in Higher Education and an M.S. in Criminal Justice. She also holds an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Miami, a Juris Doctorate from Louisiana State University, and a B.A. in English Professional Writing from Baylor University. Her professional interests include academic dishonesty, intimate partner violence, mass incarceration, race/ethnic relations, and student success initiatives.

We express our deepest gratitude to Dr. Ear for his remarkable leadership and service as Interim Board Chair over the past 18 months. His tenure since April 2023 has been marked by a steadfast commitment to advancing PPIA’s mission of fostering diversity and excellence in public service. Under his guidance, PPIA navigated crucial transitions, strengthened its partnerships, and expanded opportunities for the next generation of public service leaders.

We are confident that under Dr. VincentRobinson’s leadership, PPIA will continue to thrive and advance its mission of promoting diversity and excellence in public service. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Carleen Vincent-Robinson as the new Chair of the PPIA Board of Directors.

Sincerely,

PPIA Executive Committee