Former Health Sciences Dean Returns to His Roots with Post in College of Education

After nearly three-and-a-half years as the dean of the UTEP College of Health Sciences, William Robertson, Ph.D., has made his way back to the College of Education, where he now serves as the Patricia Daw Yetter Endowed Professor in the Teacher Education Department. For Robertson, the decision to return to the College of Education is a continuation of the work he began long ago as a middle school science teacher and instructor at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he first began conveying science through skateboarding and action sports.

“As a young teacher, it was sometimes difficult to keep my students interested in topics as nebulous as Newton’s laws of motion,” he said. “But through skateboarding, I found that I could captivate their attention and teach them about science at the same time. It was a breakthrough moment for me and an experience that has focused my career on building tools that teachers can use to help students think and learn about STEM.”

At UTEP, Robertson’s work has revolved around working with schools and districts to develop engaging and relevant science curriculum and technology integration at the K-12 level. Beyond the classroom, he has educated and entertained thousands of students nationwide through his performances as ‘Dr. Skateboard’ – the high-flying athlete who uses action sports to teach principles of science.

“We are so excited that Bill Robertson has made his way back to the College of Education,” said Clifton Tanabe, Ph.D., dean of the college. “He is a nationally recognized education leader, and we are grateful that he is returning to continue his commitment for students and faculty at UTEP and throughout our region.”

Now, as Robertson returns to serve in the STEM Education Division, he seeks to scale the impact of his work through the Patricia Daw Yetter Endowed Professorship. The distinction, named in honor of a longtime UTEP supporter and alumna, was recently bequeathed to Robertson for his contributions to the field of education. Funds distributed from the endowment are used to attract and retain outstanding education faculty who prepare teachers that can inspire students for a lifetime of achievement.

Robertson will have funding he hopes to allocate toward securing larger research grants as recipient of the professorship.

“I hold the endowment in high esteem and am greatly appreciative of the opportunity and the vote of confidence placed in me by the leadership of both the College of Education and the University overall,” Robertson said. “It’s reaffirming to know that the efforts I’ve undergone to emphasize the importance of engaged learning are recognized and are seen as an area of opportunity for the University. I believe that teachers are the bridges that connect students to life-altering opportunity, and through this professorship, I hope to act in a similar fashion for my colleagues.”