Arkansas Press Women is pleased to spotlight Patrina Robinson, a retired communications professional and longtime community advocate whose 29 years of service to the state of Arkansas reflect her dedication to public service, community engagement, and helping others. She is now serving as Arkansas Press Women’s new secretary.
Robinson’s career spanned several Arkansas institutions and public agencies. She spent nine years with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, followed by four years in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Provost Office, where she helped plan faculty events, mixers and off-campus gatherings. She then spent nine years in public relations and community engagement at the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office under Dustin McDaniel.
Her final seven years of public service were spent at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), where she led digital communications initiatives, coordinated remote events for network meetings in Washington, D.C., and built community partnerships. In December 2025, she began an exciting new chapter: retirement. But for Robinson, retirement is anything but slowing down.
She continues to serve her community as secretary of the advisory commission for the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. She is also an active member of the Church at Rock Creek, where she participated in a 10-day mission trip to Peru in summer 2025.
Closer to home, Robinson joins church members in purchasing, preparing, and serving weekly meals to people experiencing homelessness in Little Rock. She also works with church groups to meet immediate community needs by collecting and distributing food, clothing, and other essential supplies.
Alongside her service, Robinson is embracing opportunities to explore her creative side. She is a vintage market dealer at Midtown Vintage Market, where she sells estate finds and treasures. She is also returning to hobbies she set aside as a teenager, including roller skating, extensive travel, attending big concerts, and creative writing.
An art and music enthusiast, Robinson has recently taken photography and art classes, learning to create collages and mixed-media compositions. And she is making up for lost time when it comes to live music. In 2026, she celebrated her eighth concert of the year by seeing Lenny Kravitz perform in Oklahoma.
Robinson also discovered a green thumb during the pandemic. Today, her yard is filled with thriving peonies, hydrangeas, lilies, and hibiscus. She enjoys arranging flowers and gifting her creations to family and friends.
As a new Arkansas Press Women’s new secretary, Robinson looks forward to continuing her personal and professional growth while sharing her experience with others.
“Joining APW gives me opportunities to learn, continue to grow, and share what I have learned,” she said. “I am excited to continue to serve Arkansas communities.”
That spirit of curiosity, creativity, and service is reflected in one of Robinson’s favorite quotes from author Toni Morrison: “Your life is already artful—waiting, just waiting for you to make art.”