PROFESSOR Leslie Robinson, the accomplished academician who rose through the ranks to become the first principal of the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) in 1990, passed away yesterday. He was 82.

In a statement issued by the university yesterday, the late professor was remembered for his outstanding contribution to the development of the institution during the 42 years that spanned his active involvement with the university. Professor Robinson accomplished a lot of ‘firsts’ at

the institution, the university said.

In addition to serving as the first principal of the UWI’s Mona campus, Prof Robinson was the first warden of Chancellor Hall, the first principal of the College of Arts and Sciences (which later became the UWI’s Cave Hill campus in Barbados) and 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.

Professor Robinson, who served as pro vice chancellor in charge of the university’s Development and Planning Unit

between 1972 and 1991, was also the first head of

the Department of Mathematics at the then University College of the West Indies (appointed one year after joining the staff as a lecturer in 1949) and became the first professor of mathematics in 1965.

He was also at the forefront of major developments at the institution, spearheading the introduction of library studies in 1974 and of mass communication two years later, and was instrumental in the introduction of actuarial sciences in the UWI’s Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences. He also led the upgrading

of the Department of Mathematics, and was credited with founding the Mathematical Association of Jamaica.

The accomplished professor and avid mathematician served on all major university committees including the Council, Senate, the Matriculation Board, the 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. Professor Robinson was also chairman of the Council of (the then) College of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST, now the University of Technology), life member of the Mathematical Association of Jamaica and fellow of the Jamaica Institute of Management.

In 1988, Professor Robinson was awarded the Order of Jamaica in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the University of the West Indies and to other tertiary institutions.

The late professor is survived by wife Dr Joyce Robinson – former head of the Jamaica Library Service, the HEART Trust/NTA and the Jamaican Movement for the Advancement of Literacy (JAMAL) – and children Anthony, Ann and Rory.