Student Leaders Change Name of African American Senate Position at WSU
OGDEN, Utah – This year, Anna Robbins helped change the name of her senate position at Weber State University from African American Student Senator to African Diaspora Student Senator. The name change, she said, better reflects the students she represents, and her own complex and interesting heritage.
Diaspora, according to Merriam-Webster, means “a group of people who live outside the area in which they had lived for a long time or in which their ancestors lived.”
Many times Robbins, who was adopted by a caucasian family at birth, said people have questioned her about her background and where she belongs. “When you look at my DNA, I have such a mixture of everything,” Robinson explained. “Sometimes I have even questioned myself, ‘Am I Black enough?’”
No label can neatly describe the dynamic graduate student, single mother and American Fork police officer who is striving to unite and involve her constituency at Weber State.
“We wanted to try and represent more of a population and make sure we get as many people as we can involved because it's so important that all students feel represented,” Robbins said. “Some people may not be fans of the name change, but we really felt like it was the best name that we could come up with to represent as many students as possible.”
At Weber State, Robbins has represented multiple demographics — a student government leader, a first-generation student, an undergraduate and graduate student, an athlete, a club president, a traditional and non-traditional student.
As director of WSU’s Center for Multicultural Excellence, Michiko Nakashima-Lizarazo, has watched Robbins’ educational journey from freshman to graduate student.
“I had the honor of working with Anna during her undergraduate years at Weber,” she said. “It is a treat and a pure delight that she has returned to her alma mater. She continues to impress us all as she is a remarkable and successful role model who makes an indelible and positive impact on our Wildcat community.”
Robbins first arrived at WSU on scholarship in 2007, from her home in Arizona, as a student ambassador. Her interests exploded quickly. In addition to taking classes, she ran track and played women’s rugby. She served as a student senator, president of Black Scholars United and chair of programming in the Diversity Office. She worked as a Resident Assistant in housing.
“I just took on so many different positions, and I was really invested in school, and I had such a great time,” Robbins said. “I absolutely loved it.”
She loved it so much, she eventually burned out and dropped out. She left Ogden and served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She returned from her mission, ready to conquer the world, but found some of her expectations for people and plans had been unrealistic. Returning to reality left her depressed.
“I felt really bad,” Robbins remembers. “One day I was getting up, and I hadn't even changed my clothes in a few days. I had a big top bun, and I just looked like I had given up. My brother said, ‘You know, if you comb your hair, put a little makeup on and you get on with your day, you will feel a lot better.’”
Robbins knew the comment was meant as a brotherly jab, but it turned out to be just what she needed, and she followed his advice to get her life back on track.
“One of the things I had to come to terms with is that every day doesn't have to be a perfect day,” Robbins said. “Sometimes a perfect day is just doing the minimum, you know, um, getting up makes it a perfect day. So learning to be OK with not having everything perfect has been key.”
Robbins decided to travel, including spending time in Africa, before finishing her undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University–Hawaii. After completing her bachelor’s in exercise science, she moved to Virginia to work as a personal trainer.
In 2019, life took another turn. With a baby on the way, Robbins made the decision to move back to Utah to improve her future by getting additional education at Weber State. She began in the Master of Athletic Training program, where she benefited from faculty support and individual attention. Her son Rio often accompanied her to class in his baby carrier.
“I actually had to start work and school pretty much three weeks after I gave birth because I had him in the middle of fall semester. He's been on a journey, and maybe he'll get a master’s degree right along with me,” she laughed as she lugged Rio up the hill at WSU to meet an academic counselor recently.
As she began her graduate work, Robbins also decided a career in law enforcement would help support her family and dovetail with her commitment to physical fitness. She enrolled in the police academy, just days before the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“Working in law enforcement and being African American and female and single, that's so hard, especially during these times,” Robbins said. “But that's one of the things I've learned that's been so important is recognizing people are human, and we must treat people with respect and see the best in everyone.”
After joining the police force, and watching the protests around the country, Robbins soon realized communication was key to resolving conflict, especially between police and people of color. She then made another difficult decision; she switched her degree to Master of Professional Communication. At the same time, she ran for the position in the WSU Student Senate.
“People in my life say, ‘You don't need an education. Why are you getting your master's? Why are you doing leadership? You're just taking on more things,’” Robbins said. “I literally just say, ‘Hey that's because it helps me. I feel better about myself when I'm doing those things.’ They can't argue with that. Right?”
In her role as a student senator, Robbins wants all students to get involved and to speak out. Her advisor Kenneth Johnson said she has been very effective in that effort.
“She has shown leadership, courage and determination to do what is best for the African Diaspora students,” Johnson said.
Robbins tells anyone who will listen that Weber State is the perfect place to attempt change.
”I progressed by getting my education, trying new classes, getting involved in leadership and being in uncomfortable situations,” Robbins said. “Leadership can be uncomfortable, but it allows for growth. Ever upward, that's where I feel Weber State takes me because they always are challenging me but also not putting me down. They are constantly building and helping me grow and giving me those opportunities to challenge myself.”
For photos, visit the following link.
wsuucomm.smugmug.com/Marketing-Communications/2020-Annual-Report/n-vczm63/Anna-Robbins-Portrait
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Allison Barlow Hess, Public Relations director
801-626-7948 • ahess@weber.edu- Contact:
Allison Barlow Hess, Public Relations director
801-626-7948 • ahess@weber.edu