When Metrio Robinson looks out at all the students on campus, heading to class, participating in activities, and enjoying campus events, he sees opportunity. You don’t have to be wealthy. You don’t have to come from a long line of college-educated people. You just have to want to learn. That is the promise of Saint John Baptist de La Salle.

“When De La Salle came up with the Lasallian principles, he didn’t focus on the wellbeing of the rich,” said Robinson, CBU’s Director of Event Management. “He wanted to make sure that everyone had an opportunity to receive an education, no matter what background.” 

That origin story resonates with Robinson, who joined the CBU event staff shortly after the heaviest period of the COVID-19 pandemic. He is proud to work at a university rooted in Lasallian values that welcomes Dreamers and first-generation college students.

“Me being a Black man from an urban environment, I wouldn’t have gotten the same opportunities, but De La Salle made sure everyone had the same opportunities to better themselves,” said Robinson. “Being from South Memphis, I had to create my own path, and that’s what De La Salle did.” 

After high school, Robinson enrolled at LeMoyne-Owen College where he earned a business administration degree with a management concentration. He worked for more than 10 years in healthcare, focusing primarily on mental health, behavioral health, and substance abuse counseling, while also dedicating time to building Organized Chaos Enterprises, his sound engineering and production company, which has worked on many of the city’s highest-profile projects.

Ultimately, he left healthcare behind and embraced entertainment and entrepreneurship fully. He is passionate about music and is known by DJ Truck when he is on the turntables. His love of production brought him to CBU to work on events. His schedule can get hectic, but that’s what keeps it interesting. 

“Every day changes,” he said. “Mostly, I run the day-to-day operations of every event held on campus—internal, external, and student-based. We receive an average of 25 to 30 requests per day. Each one must be reviewed, approved or denied, and scheduled.”

Robinson has two team members—an events coordinator and a graduate assistant—and several student workers who assist with events. The team handles nearly every aspect, from tables, chairs, and tablecloths to room set-up, audio-visual, and technical support. They help plan it; they set it up, provide support during the occasion, and break it down.

“Metrio brings a level of fun and professionalism to event management that any organization would be fortunate to have,” said Dr. Lurene Kelley, CBU’s Director of Academic Support. “Even though he is known across the city for also working on high-profile events, like the Freedom Awards for the National Civil Rights Museum, Metrio, and his staff still pay attention to the details for my tiny student workshops! He understands that keeping students engaged in academic and social endeavors on campus is critical to their success, and he is always there to support faculty and staff as we work to activate the campus.”

Robinson even improvises upon occasion. On Feb. 10, 2025, City of Memphis Mayor Paul Young held a special town hall for CBU students, staff, and faculty on campus. Robinson noted the atmosphere could use a lift and pulled some sound equipment out of his car. 

“I was playing tracks and mixing,” he said. “The mayor and the police chief were dancing. Sometimes, you have to take it and make it fun. Give people an opportunity. Next thing you know, they are line dancing and Kappa shimmying on stage.” 

Robinson, or “Uncle Meech” as the students call him, is one of the most well-known staff members on campus because he takes time to get to know everyone and believes in the power of connection. As a student at LeMoyne-Owen, he lived off campus, so he didn’t feel the sense of camaraderie until he joined Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Now, he encourages students to get an education but also to get involved in the college experience and develop a network.

He helps along the way by encouraging students that it’s OK to forge their own path. 

“You can do your own thing,” Robinson said. “I love the students. We talk through different things. We work on homework. I provide them additional support.”

His colleagues also love the spirit he brings to work every day. 

“Metrio is fun, loving, highly connected, and always willing to teach others how to fish while consistently providing a top-tier product in his services to the university and the community as a whole,” said Justin Brooks, CBU’s Assistant Director of Recruitment and Strategy. “He pushes both his colleagues and our students to think bigger and reach farther, but to be strategic in doing such.

“He understands the challenges we and many other universities can face, but he never dwells in them. He identifies teammates and solutions in a way that we can all collaborate in ‘fixing,’ and even further ‘elevating”’ the #Buccaneer presence to new heights. Due to this and his gravitating character, it’s hard to miss this giant of a man with a giant heart anywhere, but especially here at CBU!”

Robinson’s office is in the Thomas Center.