The University of the West Indies community is deeply saddened at the passing of Professor the Hon. Leslie Robinson on Wednesday, April 4. Professor Robinson, was a founding member of the academic staff of the then University College of the West Indies, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Acting Vice Chancellor, Director of Planning and the first Principal of the Mona Campus.

Leslie Robinson was born in Lawrence Tavern, St. Andrew on December 27, 1925 and was educated at Calabar High School. A well-rounded student, he excelled in sports, in particular football, cricket, boxing and athletics, where he set a number of records. He also excelled in academics and in 1943, was awarded the Jamaica Scholarship for Boys, going on to the University of London where he read mathematics and obtained the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1946 with First Class Honours. As a result of that outstanding achievement, he was awarded College prizes and a postgraduate scholarship, going on to obtain the Master of Arts degree with distinction from that same institution.

In 1949, Leslie Robinson joined the staff of the then University College of the West Indies as a Lecturer in Mathematics and in 1950, was appointed the first Head of the Department of Mathematics. He was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1955 and appointed the first Professor of Mathematics at the University of the West Indies in 1965.

Professor Robinson spearheaded the development of the Department of Mathematics taking it from one giving General Degrees to one offering the Special Degree and later Higher Degrees. Leslie Robinson successfully combined his knowledge of mathematics with the skill of teaching and stimulated many students to achieve in their field. He also influenced the teaching of mathematics through being an external examiner for Teacher Training Colleges and also founded the Mathematical Association of Jamaica.

During his record 42 years of distinguished service to the University, Professor Robinson held many key administrative positions, making significant contributions to the development of the University. He served as the first Warden of Chancellor Hall, first Principal of the College of Arts and Sciences which later became the UWI’s Cave Hill Campus in Barbados and was the first and only person to serve at different times as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and General Studies as well as Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Mona, overseeing major developments in both areas. He spearheaded the introduction of Library Studies in 1974 and Mass Communication in 1976 and also chaired their Management Committees. He was also Chairperson of the Committee of Management for the project which sought to upgrade the offerings in Management Studies and to establish greater links with the business community in Jamaica. Towards the end of his academic years, he was also instrumental in the introduction of Actuarial Sciences in the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences.

Professor Robinson served as Pro Vice Chancellor (Planning), heading the Development and Planning Unit from 1972 until 1991. The Development and Planning Unit was crucial to the planning of the University’s activities, determining among other things, the allocation of resources, the annual admissions to the University, the calculation of economic costs and providing documentation for the triennial estimates and development plans. The Unit also served as the Secretariat for major inter-governmental committees dealing with the restructuring and review of the University’s work.

Leslie Robinson served on all major University Committees including Council, Senate, the Matriculation Board, Board of Undergraduate Awards, the Appointments Committee and the Finance and General Purposes Committee. He represented the University on the Overseas Examination Committee, the Students Loan Council, the Caribbean Examinations Council and the National Committee for UNESCO. He was also Chairman of the Council of the then College of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST) now the University of Technology, Founder and Life Member of the Mathematical Association of Jamaica, Fellow of the Jamaican Institute of Management.

In 1986, on the death of then Vice Chancellor, Leslie Robinson was appointed Acting Vice Chancellor and when the posts of Vice Chancellor of The University of the West Indies was separated from that of Principal of the Mona Campus, Leslie Robinson became the first Principal of the Mona Campus in 1990.

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the University of the West Indies and other tertiary institutions, the Government of Jamaica conferred on him the Order of Jamaica in 1988.

During its Annual Commemoration Celebrations in February 2006, the University of the West Indies honoured Professor the Hon. Leslie Robinson for his overall involvement in and outstanding contribution to the life of the University as Lecturer, Pro-Vice Chancellor and the first Principal of the Mona Campus.