Cincinnati State turns to longtime provost as next president

For the past decade, Robbin S. Hoopes has helped shape Cincinnati State Technical and Community College’s academic future. Soon, he’ll be responsible for the college’s future as a whole.

Cincinnati State’s Board of Trustees has selected Hoopes as the college’s next president following a nationwide search that attracted more than 80 candidates. The provost and chief academic officer was one of three finalists and the only internal candidate.

“Selecting the next president is one of the most important responsibilities a Board of Trustees undertakes,” said Justin Howe, a trustee who chaired the presidential search committee.

“I’m incredibly grateful to our search committee, our campus community, and our search partners for their thoughtful engagement throughout this process,” he continued. “Together, we remained focused on finding the leader who will best serve Cincinnati State, its students, its employees, and the broader community for years to come.

Building on momentum

Hoopes is set to succeed Monica Posey, who retires Aug. 31 after leading the college for 10 years. During her tenure, Cincinnati State experienced strong enrollment growth and doubled its economic impact on the region.

Board Chair Jane Garvey said trustees wanted a leader who could build on that progress rather than chart a new course.

“We’re in a strong place at Cincinnati State,” Garvey said. “We want to build on that momentum, and Robbin has the ability to think ambitiously about the future while also bringing faculty, staff, and community partners together around a shared vision.”

Hoopes has spent much of the past decade helping drive that growth. As the college’s chief academic officer, he led efforts to launch Cincinnati State’s first bachelor’s degree programs, expand offerings in high-demand fields including health care and aviation maintenance, increase transfer opportunities with area universities, secure major federal and state grants and strengthen the college’s accreditation.

Posey, who worked alongside Hoopes throughout her presidency, said his collaborative leadership helped position the college for continued success.

“I am delighted that Robbin has been selected to serve as the next president of Cincinnati State,” Posey said.

“He has served as provost of the college, working beside me for my entire 10 years as president. Cincinnati State’s growth and student success can be attributed partly to our perfect alignment—we share a heart for the mission of the college, an appreciation for campus-wide collaboration, and a sense of humility. I am confident that he is the best person to lead the college to the next level, and I am committed to supporting this transition and the future of Cincinnati State.”

An unconventional path

Hoopes’ route to the presidency began far from a college campus.

Raised on a dairy farm in eastern Ohio, he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Akron before receiving his law degree from the University of Cincinnati. He began his professional career as a litigator before shifting his focus to education and community service.

He later earned a master’s degree in linguistics from Gallaudet University and completed a doctoral fellowship in sociolinguistics at Georgetown University. Along the way, he became a nationally certified interpreter for the deaf, taught at a community college and eventually moved into higher education leadership.

As he prepares to take over as president, Hoopes said he remains focused on the mission that drew him to community colleges in the first place.

“There is no better way to serve our community than by providing great technical education that transforms students’ lives while meeting the workforce needs of our regional employers,” Hoopes said.

cincinnatistate.edu