Robin is a professor in the department of Politics and Government at the University of Puget Sound. She has a BA in Political Science from Johns Hopkins University and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Oregon.  Her scholarship focuses on the formation of political identities and policy positions in in the US. She has expertise in technology and immigration policy at both the national and subnational level. 

Currently she is focused on investigating how states are grappling with the challenges posed by the proliferation of big data and AI in public and private spheres. A recent project, explores possibilities for bipartisan cooperation in governing AI at the state level. In her current project, she is using political history to shed new light on questions about data privacy, digital consumer protection, and governing technology for public good. 

Previous scholarship has looked at the intersections of immigration, race, and religion at both national and subnational levels. Noteworthy publications include  The New Nativism (University of Minnesota Press) and Faith and Race in American Political Life (ed. with Nancy Wadsworth, University of Virginia Press). Supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, her historical comparisons of state responses to immigration have resulted in a series of articles. 

 Throughout her career, Robin has been deeply involved in community engagement, including founding leadership roles in   Freedom Education Project Puget Sound and Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest. Her efforts have been instrumental in developing educational, support, and reentry programs for incarcerated individuals. Additionally, Robin has lent her expertise to nonprofits and educational entities, guiding Program Evaluation , policy development,  and advocacy planning.
More information about her research can be found on her CV.  Robin is a dynamic speaker, engaging with diverse audiences including activist and political groups, nonpartisan organizations like City Clubs, the League of Women Voters, and World Affairs and universities nationwide.