Diana Robinson

Diana Robinson is the Interim Director of the Center for Governmental Studies (CGS) at Northern Illinois University where she also leads CGS's practice on workforce development and human services.  In addition to managing a portfolio of applied research, program evaluation, knowledge management, and strategic planning projects, she is co-directing an international comparative research project on the role of universities in sustainable regional development with the international Observatory PASCAL.  Her specific focus is on expanding access to higher education for under-resourced, first generation, and low-income individuals. Much of Diana’s work involves facilitating collaboration across multiple stakeholder groups.

 Prior to coming to CGS, Diana was Deputy Superintendent at the Illinois State Board of Education where she directed vocational and adult education and was responsible for programs in school-to-careers, alternative education, service learning, family literacy, parental involvement and other areas requiring effective partnerships between schools, communities and businesses.

Diana also served as Vice President for the Midwest Regional Office of the National Alliance of Business (NAB), a national business-led organization focused on workforce development and education reform. Before NAB, Diana managed youth apprenticeship programs in financial services and travel and tourism in the City Colleges of Chicago.  She also worked in various research and management positions in employment, training, and economic development for the City of Chicago during Mayor Harold Washington’s administration.

Diana holds a master's degree in social development from the University of Chicago and a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.  She is working on her doctorate in adult and higher education at NIU.  Her research interest is in how the engagement mission of higher education is evolving in response to new global realities.