Four Decades of Leadership
The Three Presidents of Edison State College
Dr. Charles E. Rollins 1962-1965
Dr. Charles E. Rollins was appointed as the first President of Edison Junior College on January 17, 1962. He assumed his duties on March 1 of that year. Prior to Edison, Dr. Rollins had served as Dean of York Junior College in Pennsylvania. Since everything was new during Dr. Rollins’ tenure as president, his was a role of helping to establish traditions and structure for the fledgling college. Dr. Rollins is credited with creating the first college logo and seal, writing the alma mater, choosing the college colors and overseeing the development of a master plan for the design of the permanent campus.
Dr. Rollins, however, resigned his post before the college occupied the new campus. In 1965, he left Edison Junior College to become President of Bucks Community College in Pennsylvania. Now fully retired, Dr. Rollins and his wife, Audra, currently reside in Newtown, Pennsylvania.
Dr. David G. Robinson 1965-1991
Dr. David G. Robinson came to Edison Junior College as the first academic Dean in 1962. He served on the first administrative team of the college and was appointed President in 1965. Dr. Robinson was inaugurated as Edison’s second president on September 14, 1965. Dr. Robinson served as President of Edison Junior College (and later Edison Community College) for 26 years. In his total of 29 years with Edison, Dr. Robinson would see the student enrollment increase from 124 students to nearly 10,000. Under his leadership, Edison grew from a two-year, primarily university transfer institution to a comprehensive community college granting Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Certificate Programs and a wide array of Continuing Education opportunities.
Prior to joining Edison in 1962, Dr. Robinson served on the administrative staff of Manatee Community College in Bradenton, Florida. Dr. Robinson retired on June 30, 1991. He and his wife, Sue, currently reside in Fort Myers, where he is actively involved in community service and civic organizations. In 1991, in recognition of his dedicated service to Edison Community College, the District Board of Trustees honored Dr. Robinson with the lifelong distinction of “President Emeritus.”
Dr. Kenneth P. Walker 1991-Present
Dr. Kenneth P. Walker assumed the presidency of Edison Community College on July 1, 1991. He was officially inaugurated on April 30, 1992. Under Dr. Walker’s leadership, the college expanded from a single campus to a multi-campus institution, with full service campuses in Lee, Charlotte and Collier Counties, and an attendance center serving Glades and Hendry Counties. During his tenure, the student enrollment has grown from approximately 9,000 students to more than 23,000 credit and non-credit students. Among the most significant achievements of Dr. Walker’s presidency are the expansion of health care and other technology programs and the extension of the community college to include baccalaureate degree opportunities.
Jody Hendry, long time member of the District Board of Trustees and the Edison Community College Endowment Corporation Board of Directors, credits Dr. Walker with continuing a tradition of excellence set by the first two presidents. “Under his leadership,” she says, “ECC continues to be one of the outstanding colleges in Florida.”
Prior to joining Edison, Dr. Walker was president of Oklahoma City Community College. Dr. Walker and his wife, Mary Jo, reside in Fort Myers. He continues in his role as president of Edison State College in 2002.
