Kay and Steve Robbins commemorate more than 40 years of service at UTSA with a fellowship they established for the Department of Computer Science.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 — Two retired UTSA faculty members, a married couple, are supporting the university through a unique gift to help future generations of computer scientists. Kay and Steve Robbins, professors emeriti from the UTSA College of Sciences Department of Computer Science, have established the Kay and Steve Robbins Faculty Teaching Fellowship Award in Computer Science.
The Kay and Steve Robbins Faculty Teaching Fellowship Award will propel teaching innovations by computer science faculty in course and program development, and career skills development. The fellowship is fully funded and will begin distributions in November 2021.
"The pandemic has presented some challenges for teaching and learning, but also opportunities for innovative use of technology, especially new technologies,” said Kay and Steve Robbins in a joint statement. “We have always thought we might bequeath something to UTSA sometime in the distant future, but in seeing the hard work of the faculty and students in meeting the challenges of the pandemic these past two years, we thought now was the time to act.”
Kay and Steve became faculty at UTSA in the fall of 1975, entering with the university’s first undergraduate class on the Main Campus. Soon after they arrived, the Robbinses started teaching Computer Science and Systems Design courses.
The Systems Design curriculum they helped develop has become the basis for the Computer Engineering program. At the time, all of the faculty offices and the classrooms were located in the Humanities and Social Sciences building, which was renamed the McKinney Humanities Building in 2011. The library was in boxes in the Convocation Center, and UTSA had no computers. From these humble beginnings, they’ve watched UTSA grow into a dynamic and exciting institution.
Computer science has also seen many changes over the years. When the couple first started at UTSA, their students submitted their programs using punch cards, which were shipped off-campus nightly to run. In the Robbinses’ more than 40 years at UTSA, they have witnessed the computer science program and curriculum adapt to the advent of networks, terminals, PCs, the Internet, the Web and mobile devices.
Today, the Department of Computer Science has been nationally recognized and is one of the fastest growing divisions within the College of Sciences.
“We are very grateful for this visionary endowment fund doctors Kay and Steve Robbins have established to support the future success of our computer science education,” said Sushil Prasad, chair of the UTSA Department of Computer Science. “Kay and Steve have been founding members of the computer science department and have been instrumental in establishing a standard of excellence in education and research that will always be tied to their legacy at UTSA.”
During her career at UTSA, Kay Robbins was actively involved in developing and teaching courses across all levels of the Computer Science department. An important contribution was creating materials and techniques for the Data Analysis and Visualization course, first required of biology majors and then became part of the mathematics section of the core curriculum.
She was also actively involved in curriculum and program development in bioinformatics. In addition, she was the principal investigator on the UTSA/UTHSCSA Cancer Bioinformatics Initiative. This effort brought together cancer researchers and quantitative scientists to further engage students in data-driven research in cancer and other diseases.
Credited for being one of the main catalysts behind the formation of UTSA’s Computer Science program, Steve Robbins also designed and led the design of the Systems Design curriculum, later to be known as UTSA’s Electrical Engineering department.
He also received the National Science Foundation grant for equipment that led to UTSA’s first Computing Facility. He handled the setup and administration of the facility’s account and software management, which made a huge impact on student and faculty research capabilities. While at UTSA, he taught 38 different undergraduate courses and 10 different graduate courses in computer science, mathematics, statistics and software development.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
The Innovation Academy is an 8-hour online hybrid course designed to introduce faculty to a variety of educational ideas, best practices and resources for becoming more comfortable in teaching in different modalities.
Virtual EventCome meet your Student Success Center, learn how to MOVE through college successfully, and meet new friends. We will have food, short info sessions, giveaways, and more!
McKinney Humanities Building (MH 2.01 Galleria,) Main CampusGet help finding your way around campus. UTSA Ambassadors and Honors Alliance members can help you find your classes, UTSA Card, and any other resources around campus! Simply come by our table in the Sombrilla!
Roadrunner Statue, Main CampusJoin the Transfer and Transition Team as we talk transition, resources, and student success. Learn more about Blackboard, bluebook, and important academic policies. Bring in prior institution swag, and swap it for UTSA swag.
McKinney Humanities Building (MH 2.01.24,) Main CampusRoadrunner families are invited to take a break from moving in their students to join the Family Association for refreshments in the Student Union Ski Lodge. Connect with other families and then stay for the Roadrunner Welcome featuring SOSA.
Student Union Ski Lodge, Main CampusCome enjoy a free Kona Ice and listen to the sounds of DJ Koop. You can come with friends or make a friend when you arrive. This night is about relaxing and having a good time. It's also about being a part of our wonderful tradition to hear the Spirit of San Antonio (SOSA).
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusWelcome to the Leadership and Service Floor! Join the Leadership and Volunteer Services staff for orientation where participating residents will learn about resources at UTSA as well as hear about the opportunities you have to get involved.
Student Union (SU 2.03.08,) Anaqua Room, Main CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education.
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to ending generations of discrimination and inequity. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
