Reggie Robinson, Outstanding Kansas Public Administrator, Dead at 63
Reggie Robinson, the current president of the Kansas Health Foundation who previously served as a longtime faculty member and administrator at the University of Kansas and as the former president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents, died of cancer on Saturday at the age of 63.
At the time of his death, Robinson was the Kansas Health Foundation’s president and CEO. He joined their team, for what he proclaimed his “dream job” in November 2019
Prior to that, he served in several increasingly responsible positions on several different turns at the University of Kansas. He served as chief of staff to former KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway in the 1990s and 2000s. He was back at KU in 2014 leading KU’s School of Public Affairs and Administration, and then moved on to a position heading the university’s communications team, then as vice chancellor for public affairs.
He was just in his forties in 2002 when he was appointed CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents. HE remained there until 2010. He also served a short stint as director of the Center for Law and Government at Washburn University.
Robinson earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from KU.
In a statement released on behalf of the Board and staff of the Kansas Health Foundation, board chair Matt Allen released the following statement.
“Reggie was an outstanding leader, and we knew we were in for something uniquely special when he became the Foundation’s president and CEO. His prior leadership experiences made such a positive impact on so many lives, and he enthusiastically took on transforming health for Kansans. Reggie had a wide cast of friends who spoke of him with great admiration and appreciation. It was clear, all of our lives were improved by knowing him.”
Robinson leaves to mourn his wife Jane, and three children and thousands of family, friends, and individual’s whose life he positively impacted.