The Patricia E. Robertson Center is a space on campus that is focused on supporting students, helping them find community and providing resources.
“We want people to develop into whoever they feel the world needs to advocate for themselves, to advocate for other people, and we hope that they can create some relationships along the way,” said Heidi Marsh, the coordinator for center engagement and vital support services.
The Robertson Center opened at the beginning of this school year to fill gaps created by the closure of previous campus centers.
“The Robertson Center has been a really important space for students who have returned to campus to find that some of the areas that they had found support at before have been closed,” Marsh said. “I think we found that having a space where some of those students can go to spend time has been really valuable and we hope to continue to offer that space while bringing new students into it.”
During their first year, one goal of the center has been to broaden their partnerships both on and off campus. They’ve worked with several student groups and offices on campus, as well as local organizations and businesses such as the Philosopher’s House, the Washington County Animal Shelter and the Boys and Girls Club.
The Robertson Center provides several events throughout the year including creative activities, educational events and workshops.
This past week, during ETSU’s De-Stress Week, the center co-hosted Rage and Relax with Student Wellness. The center offered a plate smash, as well as creative activities such as jewelry making, DIY stress balls and painting. Around 150 students came by to participate.
Recently, the center also partnered with Bucky’s Pantry for a soup seminar where participants were able to take home both a new cooking skill and food.
The center’s workshops have included topics such as values discovery, an empathy lab and a partnership with the Career Center for “what do I want to be when I grow up.”
Coming up at the beginning of the fall semester, the center is planning a terracotta painting event that students can look forward to. The event will let students paint a terracotta pot and plant a succulent to take home in it. The center also plans to resume the Crafting for a Cause series to give students an opportunity to help out the community while participating in other fun crafting projects.
The center also provides free resources in its basic needs library that can be picked up in the center or at one of its tabling events. The resources provided include items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, body wash and soap, shampoo and conditioner and other seasonal-based items.
“I hope that students feel like no matter who they are or where they’re at in their journey at ETSU, that they always have a place at the Robertson Center, whether they’re brand new or whether they’re about to graduate,” Marsh said. “I also hope that we can help them figure out a little bit about who they are and how they want to show up in the world and equip them with some of the skills that they need to do that.”
To keep up with future events and opportunities, the center can be found on Instagram at @robertson_etsu.
