Dean and Professor of Astrophysics, College of Health, Science and Technology Jeff Robertson grew up in Topeka Kansas and came to the University of Central Missouri from Arkansas Tech University where he started his academic career in 1997, progressing through all the faculty ranks. He served in administrative roles that included Department Head of Physical Sciences and Dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences, a role in which he served for 11 years. During that time he also served double duty as Interim Dean of the College of Business and then Interim Dean of the Graduate College before eventually serving as Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and acting Vice President for Academic Affairs before joining UCM in January 2022. He holds a Ph.D. in Astrophysics from Indiana University, an M.S. in Astronomy from San Diego State University and a B.S. in Physics and B.S in Astronomy from the University of Kansas.

He is a member of the Higher Learning Commission Peer Review Corps, served as President of the Arkansas Dean’s Association and twice served as the President of the Arkansas Academy of Science. More recently he completed the American Academic Leadership Institute’s Becoming a Provost Academy. His research spans the universe (literally), involving interacting binary stars, exoplanets and potentially hazardous asteroids.