BA, History, Haverford College
MA and PhD (ABD), East Asian Studies, Princeton University

Robin is a Bay founding faculty member and launched both our Mandarin and humanities programs. As an undergraduate, Robin dove into Chinese philosophy and history, and it fundamentally shifted her thinking, in showing that there were entirely different lenses through which to experience the world. That perspective has informed her life since. She teaches our philosophy courses and loves teaching them at Bay because they bring to the fore the “sheer messiness” of the human condition. “I learn so much from witnessing my students approach familiar texts with fresh eyes.”

Prior to graduate school and her teaching career, Robin completed advanced training in classical and Mandarin Chinese at Stanford’s Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies in Taipei. She was then hired by Turner Broadcasting Systems and spent several years establishing Turner’s media presence in Hong Kong and throughout the greater China region in the early 1990s. 

Precept affinity: We value communication; we don’t harbor anger or ill will, especially toward ourselves, and we value patience with ourselves and others; we don’t rush to judgment. “These two precepts work in tandem for me, as it takes patience and an open heart to hear someone else's truth and suspend prior judgments. Once we are able to do that, to truly listen, there is no more room for anger or ill will. This takes lots of practice and self discipline.”

Some favorite things: Acre’s breakfast for lunch (with scrambled eggs and yogurt), philosopher socks given to her by students over the years

Currently teaching: American Studies, Religion in U.S. Politics, Existentialism (Honors), Banned Books (Honors), Negotiation, Legislation & Diplomacy (Immersive), Novels in Nature (Immersive)