A Career Measured in More Than Years
Tierra Nelson
August 27, 2026
If you've spent any time around Materials & Logistics, there's a good chance you've met Robyn Perry. Robyn has a reputation for being one of the first people to arrive, one of the friendliest people to stop and talk to, and someone who always seems to have a story to share.
This October, Robyn will celebrate 48 years at MSU, a milestone he'll mark as part of the Infrastructure Planning and Facilities team. When he first started, he figured he'd stay for at least two years. Then he got married, started a family and, somewhere along the way, two years turned into nearly five decades.
The people who make the difference
His career has given him plenty of stories, but ask Robyn what has kept him here, and the answer comes back to the people.
Robyn starts his day in the tool room, making sure tradespeople have the tools they need to do their jobs. When those tools come back, he cleans and recalibrates them so they're ready for the next person. He also tracks equipment in Planon, keeping everything accounted for along the way.
It's work that happens mostly behind the scenes. Most people see the tool or material when it's ready to be used, not everything that happened before it reached the shelf. As Robyn puts it, people often “just see the final product on the shelf.”
Robyn sees everything that goes into getting it there and takes pride in being useful, whether that means helping someone track down what they need or stepping in to offer support.
That willingness to help is matched by his love of conversation. Robyn knows people across campus and enjoys taking a moment to check in and catch up. He laughs as he says that he loves to talk, but those everyday interactions are an important part of the job.
His coworkers have become more than people he sees at work. They're family. That sense of connection shows up in the little things, like bringing in food, sitting down together and, as Robyn puts it, “breaking bread.” His advice reflects the environment he values most: “Have fun. This is your family.”
One of his favorite memories from his time at MSU goes back to the 2000 men's basketball championship. While the setup crew was preparing the stadium, Tom Izzo and members of the team stopped to thank them for their work. The crew was even invited to stay and watch the game.
Those years have also taught Robyn that knowing how to do the job is only part of being successful. Knowing how to work with people matters just as much.
“How to respect people, how to talk to people and how to relate to them” are some of the most important lessons he's learned. The rest, he says, comes with “wisdom.” It's a philosophy Robyn carries outside of work, too.
Beyond the job
He's a deacon at Hope Christian Ministries, where he has spent the past several years serving his church and community. Mentoring others and offering advice are important parts of his life, and giving back has become something he's passionate about.
Then there's jazz.
Robyn loves jazz enough to listen to it “24 hours a day,” and his coworkers are probably well acquainted with the soundtrack that accompanies his workday. They're also familiar with another Robyn trademark: giving people nicknames. If you've spent enough time around him, there's a good chance he's come up with one for you.
They know he loves to talk. They know he loves jazz. Most importantly, they know they can count on him when they need a hand.
Family is at the center of Robyn's life, too. He's a father of five, grandfather to 19 and great-grandfather to two, with family in Lansing, Toledo and Detroit. The same sense of connection he values at work carries into his life outside of MSU, where he stays closely connected to his family, church and community.
For someone considering a career in Materials & Logistics, Robyn sees the department as a place to learn, from understanding products to developing leadership and computer skills to working with people throughout the university.
If someone were to follow him through a day at work, the advice Robyn would want them to take away is simple: treat everybody with respect. It's an approach that reflects the way he has built relationships throughout his career, his community and his life.
He also believes that “you have to give in order to get,” another lesson that guides the way he approaches the people around him.
After 48 years at MSU, Robyn has given plenty. He's built a career, raised a family, served his community and formed relationships that have lasted for decades.
And he still shows up early, keeps the jazz playing and makes time to talk.