Published on November 20, 2025 by Gunnar Sadowey  
RobinsonForum2025Laura

Samford University’s Howard College of Arts and Sciences hosted the 2025 Timothy Sumner Robinson Forum on Tuesday, Nov. 18, welcoming Edward R. Murrow Award–winning journalist Laura Hackett as the keynote speaker.

The event drew students, faculty and community members for a conversation about journalism’s role in public service, crisis recovery and community resilience. 

Hackett, a reporter for Blue Ridge Public Radio, shared insights from her acclaimed coverage of Hurricane Helene and its aftermath in western North Carolina. Her reporting, recognized by the Online News Association, the Radio Television Digital News Association, and the Society of Professional Journalists, has been featured nationally on NPR’s Marketplace and All Things Considered. 

During the forum, Hackett discussed the challenges of covering disasters with compassion, the importance of local newsrooms, and the ethical responsibilities journalists hold when telling community stories. 

Ignatius Fosu, chair of the Department of Communication and Media, emphasized how Hackett’s work reflects the spirit of the event’s namesake. 

“Laura’s work exemplifies the public service tradition Tim Robinson espoused,” Fosu said. “We are very glad she was able to share unique insights with our students.”  

The Robinson Forum honors Timothy Sumner Robinson ‘65, a distinguished Washington Post journalist and Samford alumnus who championed ethical journalism and its role in serving the public good. Each year, the forum brings leading media professionals to campus to inspire the next generation of storytellers. 

The free event continues the college’s commitment to fostering meaningful conversations around journalism, ethics and civic engagement. 

GIVE: Support impactful work at Howard College of Arts and Sciences. 

 
Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford is widely recognized as having one of the most beautiful campuses in America, featuring rolling hills, meticulously maintained grounds and Georgian-Colonial architecture. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second-highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.